Mr. Karan Rana appointed as Honorary Trade Commissioner for Strengthening India–PNG Trade Relations

Rory McIlroy opted against competing at the Cadillac Championship being held at Donald Trump’s Doral resort this weekend, despite receiving effusive praise from the US President following his remarkable Masters victory.The 36-year-old Northern Irishman made history in April by claiming consecutive green jackets, becoming just the fourth golfer ever to achieve the feat alongside Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.Rather than competing in Florida, McIlroy is enjoying a period of rest after his Augusta triumph.The decision comes despite Trump publicly expressing his hope that McIlroy would participate at the tournament hosted at his venue. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Following McIlroy’s second successive Augusta triumph, Trump took to social media to offer his congratulations, declaring: “Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters!”The President added: “He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND!”Trump also made clear his expectation that the Northern Irishman would feature at his Florida course, stating: “I look forward to watching him compete in two weeks at Doral.”However, McIlroy has been emphatic about his intention to focus exclusively on golf’s biggest events, choosing to bypass the Trump-owned venue entirely.Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards, McIlroy provided insight into his strategic approach to the remainder of his career, explaining his decision to not play in Florida in the process.”I’m at a point in my career where I really have to target the bigger events, the four Major championships, the Ryder Cup,” he explained. LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Bryson DeChambeau sets record straight on LIV Golf future after Saudi fiascoTyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight rocked as Dua Lipa snubs offerBBC ‘spending thousands on riot training for staff’ ahead of World Cup”Trying to add to that number is something that’s really important to me.”The six-time major winner acknowledged that while completing the career Grand Slam had long seemed destined to be his crowning achievement, his ambitions remain undimmed.”Completing the career Grand Slam, I always felt like that was going to be the highlight of my career,” McIlroy said. “But I’m still competitive, I still feel like I have a lot left to give.”McIlroy revealed he draws motivation from sporting icons who continued to excel in the latter stages of their careers.”I got a lot of inspiration from athletes that are maybe at the back end of their careers, and still able to achieve these great things,” he said.”And I think of Novak and Roger and Rafa in tennis, or I look at Messi or Ronaldo in soccer, I look at Tom Brady in American football. I take inspiration from those guys and what they were able to achieve later into their careers.”The Northern Irishman also reflected on how his 2026 Masters triumph differed emotionally from his breakthrough Augusta victory.”This year it felt more real, more complete,” McIlroy said. “When I won in 2025, I kept thinking to myself, ‘is this real life?’ This year it was like validation.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

A “bloody battle for the Labour Party” has been predicted amid reports of Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals on manoeuvres.Speaking to GB News, journalist Tom Scotson said the fallout from the local elections would be the “starting gun” for a leadership battle. He said: “I don’t think it’s just the local elections that’s been priced in. There have been lots of disasters during Keir Starmer’s term, whether it’s multiple U-turns or poor communication with the public and its own MPs. “So now, you’re seeing prominent MPs and Labour figures gearing up their campaigns.” TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Scotson’s analysis comes as reports have surfaced suggesting a number of key Labour figures were sharpening their knives in a bid to oust Sir Keir. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are leading the pack, while allies of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham are plotting his return to Westminster to join the fray.Mr Streeting is said to have secured sufficient MP backing to mount a challenge within days, positioning himself as an early mover.Meanwhile, Ms Rayner has sharpened criticism of the leadership and is seen as a central figure in any bid.Mr Burnham remains outside Parliament but is reportedly planning a rapid return to run for the leadership, with growing cross-party backing among MPs.As such, Mr Scotson expected there could be “warfare between candidates”. “It could be a very bloody battle for the Labour Party,” he said. Regarding the rumoured challengers themselves, the journalist said Mr Streeting “has seen himself as a future prime minister”. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership within daysAndy Burnham plotting to return to Westminster ‘within weeks’ amid surge in supportGreens turn on Zack Polanski over ‘inappropriate and divisive’ Golders Green police postMr Scotson suggested that the Health Secretary would position himself to “unite different sections, not just the left and right, but the old and new Labour MPs.”However, he added that “most MPs from the left and right of the party want someone who will poll better with the public.“The only candidate that does that is Andy Burnham.”That being said, Mr Scotson believed that his lack of position in Parliment could be a critical flaw.“Fundamentally, he does not have a seat in Parliament. So if he doesn’t have a seat in Parliament, he can’t replace Keir Starmer and become Prime Minister. In January, the Manchester Mayor was blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election by Labour’s National Executive Committee.Alternatively, Mr Scotson suggested Sir Keir could hang on if the rebellion is restricted to “lower key MPs that will say that they are unhappy with the leadership”.In such a scenario, he predicted the Prime Minister “will then set a different direction”. He suggested this could be “more progressive or closer to Europe… something that is more red meat to the base”. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offering a substantial new financial incentive for businesses willing to take on young jobseekers, with grants reaching £3,000 available to employers.As part of the the Youth Jobs Grant, companies are recruiting individuals aged 18 to 24 who have been claiming Universal Credit for more than half a year.DWP minister Andrew Western confirmed the initiative in a recent written parliamentary response, stating: “The Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities.” This scheme forms part of enhanced funding for the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy programmes.The Labour Government’s support package extends beyond the Youth Jobs Grant with additional measures aimed at boosting youth employment.Small and medium-sized businesses can access a separate £2,000 incentive when taking on apprentices between 16 and 24 years old.Mr Western outlined a third element of the strategy: “The Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job.” Ministers have pledged to assist one million young people through these combined initiatives whilst creating 500,000 training and employment opportunities.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSState pension triple lock could be scrapped under ‘dystopian’ Tony Blair proposalDWP confirms major change to Universal Credit and state pension payments in just hoursDWP confirms major change to PIP in move impacting four million BritonsHealthcare technology firm Cera is among the businesses expanding its workforce in response to the Labour Government’s employment push.The at-home care provider, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance its services, has announced plans to establish 5,000 new roles within the coming year.Additionally, the company intends to provide digital and AI skills training to over 20,000 workers, both new recruits and existing staff, throughout 2026.Cera has developed an AI-powered tool named Ami that assists applicants through the recruitment process, accelerating their journey into employment.The firm is specifically focusing on hiring people over 50 and young people aged 18 to 24 who are currently outside employment, education or training.Employment Minister Dame Diana Johnson commended Cera’s approach to job creation, stating: “Our mission is to get Britain working – and that means embracing the technologies that can help people into meaningful, fulfilling careers. Initiatives like this show how AI can be used as a key tool for businesses unlocking productivity and helping employers to create and fill the jobs that will drive our economy forward.” Cera’s founder and chief executive, Dr Ben Maruthappu, emphasised the long-term significance of supporting young workers.He said: “Today’s 18-24s will make up the backbone, not just of our future economy but also of our future health and care workforce.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Not even two years in as leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage is determined to do things differently. In a wide-ranging interview for Chopper’s Political Podcast this weekend, he set out how he plans to run a government if he wins the election.His most eye-catching claim is that he will stop the small boat crossings within three months of entering Number 10.Mr Farage told me he had struck an informal deal with French politician Jordan Bardella – president of the right-wing National Rally since 2022 – who he said was “odds on favourite to be the next premier in France”, over lunch. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Frustrated by the lack of results from the hundreds of millions of pounds handed to Paris to stop the crossings, Mr Farage said he gave Bardella an ultimatum.He added: “As pudding approached, I said, ‘well, I am very sorry, Jordan, but we’ve given you 800 million quid already, and this is before the next 660 million quid that’s been promised. I’m really sorry. “Unless you stop this, I’m going to get the Royal Marines to tow boats back to France’. “And it all went very quiet for a bit. Within an hour. He said, ‘I accept that. I get that’.”Is this enough? There are a lot of “ifs” in Farage’s small boats plan. What if Bardella does not become French President? What if the Royal Marines do not want to tow back small boats (and so risk the lives of migrants)? What if the courts stop him?Part of Mr Farage’s appeal is that presently he can wave these concerns away and appeal to an electorate sick and tired of seeing successive Tory and Labour governments stop the boats.However, as we get nearer to the general election, voters will demand more detail from Mr Farage on his small boats plan and so many other areas, including how he will reform the NHS. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSGreens turn on Zack Polanski over ‘inappropriate and divisive’ Golders Green police postCouncil by-election results in full: Find out how Britons voted after Reform UK makes local debutLabour MPs plot to block Angela Rayner’s path to No10 as leadership prepare to topple Keir StarmerMr Farage needs time to refine his plans, and next week’s local elections will – if polls are to be believed – offer another reason why it really is time to take the rise of Reform very seriously indeed.The Reform UK leader, himself tanned and lean from weeks of campaigning, seems to be enjoying himself, promising to do things differently, including changing Prime Minister’s Questions to twice a week if he wins the race for No10.He has been absent from the House of Commons this week, including on key votes on the Peter Mandelson scandal and the treatment of Northern Ireland veterans.However, his reasoning is that he has been taking the fight to Labour by campaigning in communities up and down the country, not sitting in Parliament where he rarely gets a chance to make a contribution.Things became slightly more emotive in our interview when pressed on why he had decided to accept millions of pounds from former Conservative Party donor Christopher Harborne, including a £5million “personal gift” before he stepped up to lead Reform in 2024.The donation “might just keep me alive”, he said, adding: “I was given the money unconditionally as a gift, but I will use it to make sure that I and my family are safe, certainly for the rest of my life.”Mr Farage, 62, is increasingly recognising that time for him is short. For the first time, he signalled to me that the next general election in 2029 might not be the end of his time in frontline politics, as many of us had thought. “I’ve been told that for years,” he said. “There’s no denying that the years are going by. But then, if I was a French or American politician – [look at] Trump and Biden, and Chirac and many, others…”(Jacques Chirac was 62 years old when he first became French President in 1995 and was 74 when he completed his second term in 2007. Joe Biden was 82 years old when he stood down as President in late 2024. Donald Trump is presently 79 years old.)Mr Farage clearly now thinks he can go on and on and on and quite what the younger MPs in his team, some of whom will be eyeing the leadership position, make of this is yet to be seen.For now, Mr Farage can’t think beyond the local elections on Thursday. “All I’m thinking about after eight weeks on the road, I’m thinking about Thursday, May 7,” he said.”Next Thursday for us is like Becher’s Brook. If we clear Becher’s Brook and we land unharmed, we’ve got a very good path to the next election.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will launch new tariffs on automotive imports from the European Union after accusing the bloc of breaking trade deals.The President of the United States took to social media site Truth Social to announce the new tariffs, which will be charged at a 25 per cent rate.He stated that the tariffs charged to the European Union for cars and trucks coming to the United States will increase next week.President Trump claimed that the EU was not complying with its trade deal with the United States, prompting the new tariff hikes. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say However, he clarified that any European manufacturers that produce their cars and trucks in the United States would escape any and all tariffs.The United States auto sector will have more than $100billion (£73.5billion) invested, a record for the industry.Mr Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that, based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States.”These Plants, staffed with American Workers, will be opening soon – There has never been anything like what is happening in America today! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”The EU and US had previously agreed a tariff rate of 15 per cent on cars and car parts, down from an original 25 per cent rate.The trade deal, which was agreed in July 2025, also reduced non-tariff barriers, including cooperation on automotive standards.Donald Trump’s decision to impose new tariffs on these vehicles has been met with strong backlash from opposition politicians.German MP Bernd Lange, the EU Parliament’s international trade committee chair, said: “This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the US side is. This is no way to treat close partners.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSA1 closed: Serious collision causes long traffic delays after lorry ‘left carriageway’ on major roadAI road cameras that can see inside cars catch 700 drivers in just one weekPetrol and diesel drivers spared from nationwide price gouging despite near-record fuel costs”Now we can only respond with the utmost clarity and firmness, drawing on the strength of our position.”The EU did not comment directly on the new tariffs, but insisted that it remains committed to last year’s deal and would keep “options open”.President Trump also announced that he would pull 5,000 US troops from Germany in response to his ongoing spat with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.This represents around one-seventh of US troops in Germany, with the European nation representing a significant stronghold for the United States.Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the order had come from War Secretary Pete Hegseth and would take place over the next six to 12 months.He added: “This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground.”Mr Trump also hinted that the US could pull troops from Spain and Italy, with the President describing the countries as being “horrible”. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter