World News Hub

Middle East crisis live: conflict continues in Lebanon despite Trump hailing Israeli-Hezbollah de-escalation

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Israeli military says it intercepted missiles from Lebanon this morning while Netanyahu says his forces will continue operating in the south of the countryTrump says Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to ‘stop all shooting’Israel’s weapons exports has reached an all-time high for a fifth year running, according to the country’s defence ministry.In a statement, it said: “Israel’s all-time defence exp...

Police watchdog probe into officer response to Henry Nowak murder must happen ‘as quickly as possible’, says Starmer – UK politics live

The Guardian • 3 months ago

The 18-year-old student was handcuffed by officers as he lay dying on the groundBBC Scotland has more details of the Peter Murrell hearing this morning on its live blog. And, on its live blog, Sky News has pictures of some of the items purchased by Murrell with stolen SNP funds.Andy Burnham will not call an early election if he becomes prime minister after the Makerfield byelection, a spokesperson...

Motorhome bought by Murrell with stolen SNP money was driven only 4 miles, court told

The Guardian • 3 months ago

High court in Edinburgh hears £125K vehicle was described as a van in faked invoice and stocked with luxury goodsThe luxury motorhome that Peter Murrell bought using money stolen from the Scottish National party was driven for only four miles, sitting unused for more than two years.Murrell, then the SNP’s chief executive, drove the £124,550 Niesmann+Bischoff vehicle from the dealers at Halbeath in...

‘Outright theft’: legal experts decry $1.8bn Trump anti-weaponization fund

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Critics from both sides and legal scholars say ‘slush fund’ is scheme that will help January 6 riotersA legal and political firestorm is growing over the $1.776bn “anti-weaponization” fund Donald Trump’s justice department has launched to pay alleged victims of “lawfare”, but that ex-DoJ officials and legal experts call “corrupt” and a “slush fund” for Maga allies that benefits the president.Congr...

Gardeners beware: slugs returning after dry weather to threaten strawberries

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Wetter weather expected to bring surge of slugs out of hiding, just as strawberries experience bumper early crop Entomologists in England are expecting a surge in slugs coming out of hiding to munch the nation’s strawberry plants after weeks of sun followed by wetter weather has caused a bumper crop.The Royal Horticultural Society is bracing for a surge in inquiries from its 625,000 members, who w...

Motorhome bought by Murrell with stolen SNP money only did four miles

The Guardian • 3 months ago

High court in Edinburgh hears £125K vehicle was described as a van in faked invoice and stocked with luxury goodsThe luxury motorhome that Peter Murrell bought using money stolen from the Scottish National party was driven for only four miles, sitting unused for more than two years.Murrell, then the SNP’s chief executive, drove the £124,550 Niesmann+Bischoff vehicle from the dealers at Halbeath in...

Democrats oppose Trump officials’ effort to include crypto in 401(k) plans

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Change backed by labor department would expose workers to greater financial risk, letter shared with Guardian saysCongressional Democrats are strongly opposing a US Department of Labor proposal that would allow 401(k) investments to include cryptocurrency, private credit and private equity assets, arguing the change will expose workers to riskier and more complex investments.In a letter shared exc...

EU accused of creating ICE-style immigration enforcement system

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Officials say law will improve migration management by allowing more deportations of undocumented people EU politicians have promised to increase deportations of undocumented migrants, under a new law that critics say mimics elements of the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown.Finalising a key element of an overhauled EU asylum and migration system, politicians have agreed a regulat...

Voters cast ballots in several states as California governor primary goes down to the wire – live

The Guardian • 3 months ago

California voters must decide top two candidates to advance in governor’s race; Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico also hold primariesSign up to the Breaking News US emailThe Egyptians had their pyramids. The Anglo-Saxons had their barrows. And the Americans have their presidential libraries – the chief difference being that the leaders the US venerates are usually still alive ...

Nightclub promoter, 21, stabbed to death after brawl in Dublin’s tourism district

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Qayyum Balogun chased and attacked after gig ended in Grafton Street area following clash between rival groups, police sayA brawl in the heart of Dublin’s tourism district led to a nightclub promoter being chased and stabbed to death.It happened at about 3am on Monday after a gig ended in the Grafton Street area of the city centre that is popular with tourists. Continue reading...

Aipac affiliate has funded lavish trips to Israel for dozens of Congress members since 7 October, filings reveal

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Revealed: AIEF, a charitable affiliate of pro-Israel lobby Aipac, has spent millions on travel for lawmakers from both parties, even as voters’ support for Israel plummetsDozens of members of Congress and Capitol Hill staffers have enjoyed lavish gifted travel to Israel funded by an Aipac affiliate since 7 October 2023, amid Israel’s expanding wars on its neighbors and despite plummeting levels of...

First Thing: Defense department bars reporters from Pentagon press room

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Spokesperson claims Trump administration has ‘the most transparent war department in history’ despite ban on journalists using Pentagon facility. Also, more than 1,000 Marilyn Monroes descend on Palm SpringsGood morning.In another apparent affront to press freedom from the Trump administration, journalists may no longer enter the Pentagon’s press office, which has been designated as a classified s...

Attorney general considers review of jail sentence for Henry Nowak killer

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Office to look at 21-year minimum term as Hampshire police and crime commissioner calls for review of religious knife lawsUK politics live – latest updatesThe attorney general’s office is considering whether the sentence given to a man jailed for murdering Henry Nowak should be reviewed, as the killer’s family apologised to the teenager’s relatives and the Sikh community.Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sen...

No 10 considers review of jail sentence for Henry Nowak killer

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Attorney general to look at 21-year minimum term as Hampshire police and crime commissioner calls for review of religious knife lawsUK politics live – latest updatesThe attorney general’s office is considering the sentence given to a man jailed for murdering a teenager as the killer’s family apologised to the victim’s relative and the Sikh community.Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life to serv...

No 10 considers jail sentence for Henry Nowak killing

The Guardian • 3 months ago

No 10 considers jail sentence for Henry Nowak murder as Hampshire police commissioner writes to PM over ‘national tragedy’UK politics live – latest updatesThe attorney general’s office is considering the sentence given to a man jailed for murdering a teenager as the killer’s family apologised to the victim’s relative and the Sikh community.Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life to serve a minimu...

Californians head to the polls as governor primary goes down to the wire – US politics live

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Other races also taking place in state as well as primaries in New Jersey, South Dakota, New Mexico, Iowa and MontanaSign up to the Breaking News US emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Californians go to the polls today in the first round of voting for a new governor, with a tight three-way race for two run-off spots.Democrats in the US Senate vowed to force Republicans to vote on ...

Murrell used false accounting and fake invoices to hide SNP embezzlement, court hears – UK politics live

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Items bought by former chief executive included more than £23,000 from a luxury stationery brand and a £3,000 robotic lawnmowerBBC Scotland has more details of the Peter Murrell hearing this morning on its live blog. And, on its live blog, Sky News has pictures of some of the items purchased by Murrell with stolen SNP funds.Andy Burnham will not call an early election if he becomes prime minister ...

Peter Murrell’s spending with embezzled SNP funds revealed in court – UK politics live

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Items bought by former chief executive included more than £23,000 from a luxury stationery brand and a £3,000 robotic lawnmowerThe money embezzled by Peter Murrell came from SNP membership fees and donations by party members, the Edinburgh court was told. The Press Association report:Alan Cameron KC told the high court in Edinburgh that the former SNP chief executive had embezzled the funds from S...

Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen to lead four-party coalition after months of uncertainty

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Social Democrat stays on for third consecutive term as PM and will outline key policies by the end of TuesdayDenmark’s new government is preparing to formally present its political programme after Mette Frederiksen negotiated a third consecutive term as prime minister, this time at the head of a four-party, left-leaning minority coalition.Announced late on Monday, the agreement between Frederiksen...

Labour ‘not looking to raise taxes to fund benefits’ as Mandelson messages suggest

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Nick Thomas-Symonds defends ‘embarrassing’ Whatsapp messages between Pat McFadden and MandelsonUK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs are not looking to raise taxes to fund more benefits, the Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said.In messages between the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, and Peter Mandelson released on Monday, McFadden wrote: “Every meeting I have is: ‘...

Labour not looking to raise taxes to fund benefits, minister says after WhatsApp messages revealed

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Nick Thomas-Symonds says messages between Pat McFadden and Peter Mandelson are ‘embarrassing’ UK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs are not looking to raise taxes to fund more benefits, the cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said.In messages between the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, and Peter Mandelson released on Monday, McFadden wrote: “Every meeting I have is: ‘Who can ...

Body found in search for boy, 11, who went missing in South Yorkshire river

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Mackenzie Swift entered the River Don in Mexborough on Saturday evening and failed to emergeA body has been found in the search for an 11-year-old boy who went missing after entering the River Don in South Yorkshire on Saturday.Mackenzie Swift entered the river in Mexborough at around 8pm and failed to emerge, prompting a police search. Continue reading...

Zelenskyy asks Trump to send missiles after Russian strikes across Ukraine

The Guardian • 3 months ago

At least 14 killed, dozens injured and others trapped under collapsed buildings after attacks on five Ukrainian citiesVolodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Donald Trump to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine after a devastating Russian attack killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more.Russia launched 73 missiles and 656 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to the air force, including eight hypersoni...

Google owner Alphabet to sell $80bn in stock to fund AI spending spree

The Guardian • 3 months ago

One of largest equity fundraisings ever includes $10bn share sale to US investment group Berkshire HathawayBusiness live – latest updatesGoogle’s parent company Alphabet has said it plans to raise up to $80bn (£59bn) in equity to fund its vast artificial intelligence infrastructure investments, raising further questions over the economics of the AI boom.The move, one of the largest equity fundrais...

No 10 urged to review religious knife rules after Henry Nowak murder

The Guardian • 3 months ago

Hampshire police commissioner writes to Keir Starmer over ‘national tragedy’ of Southampton stabbing last DecemberUK politics live – latest updatesThe police and crime commissioner for Hampshire is leading calls for a review of religious exemptions on the carrying of knives after the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by a man carrying a “Sikh dagger” in Southampton.Donna Jones described the stabbi...