World News Hub

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ‘greater respect’ after SNP victory

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, concedes his party was comprehensively beatenElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesJohn Swinney, the Scottish National party leader, has challenged Keir Starmer to show “greater respect” to the Scottish government after winning the Holyrood elections by a comfortable margin.The Scottish National party secured a reco...

Doge slashing of humanities grants in 2025 ruled biased and unconstitutional

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US judge says halt of $100m in funds allotted by Congress for scholars, writers and research illegal and discriminatoryA federal judge ruled on Thursday that the terminations of hundreds of humanities grants last year by the Trump administration’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) were unconstitutional and involved “blatant” discrimination. In April last year, Donald Trump’s a...

Virginia Democrats file motion asking for stay in map ruling as Trump touts ‘huge win’ for Republicans – live

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Motion submitted by Virginia house speaker paves way for appeal to Friday’s ruling striking down recently passed redistricting referendumVirginia supreme court strikes down new congressional maps in win for RepublicansSign up for the Breaking News US emailA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest on the conflict in the Middle East. Including secretary of state Marco Rubio’s visit to Ro...

Florida surgeon ‘devastated’ over death of patient after removing liver instead of spleen

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Thomas Shaknovsky botched the surgery of William Bryan, 70, who died on the operating tableA Florida surgeon who is facing criminal charges after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen has said he is “forever traumatized” by that person’s death.In a deposition from November that was recently obtained by NBC, 44-year-old Thomas Shaknovsky described the death of 70-year-old Willi...

Four south Florida men convicted in Haitian president’s assassination

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Men were convicted in Miami federal court for plotting to kill Jovenel Moise at his Port-au-Prince home in 2021Four south Florida men were convicted on Friday of plotting to kill Haitian president Jovenel Moise in 2021 by hiring mercenaries to assassinate him at his Port-au-Prince home, court records show.Prosecutors argued during the nine-week trial in a Miami federal court that the men assembled...

USPS considers allowing people to ship handguns through the mail

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Trump administration urges US Postal Service to scrap 100-year-old rule as Democratic state attorneys general protestHandguns could be mailed through the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the first time in nearly 100 years if a proposed Trump administration rule takes effect.Democratic attorneys general in two dozen states have sent a letter in opposition. Continue reading...

Middle East crisis live: US fires on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers it claims tried to violate blockade; US to mediate Israel-Lebanon talks

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Centcom says it has struck two tankers heading for Iran after Tehran warned Washington was violating fragile ceasefire; two days of ‘intensive talks’ between Israel and Lebanon slated as strikes continue in the regionCeasefire under threat after strikes exchanged in straitThe ship monitor Tanker Trackers has posted the following on X about the Ocean Koi oil tanker:Her new name is actually JIN LI (...

Labour loses control of Birmingham city council after 14 years of leadership

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Reform, Greens and pro-Gaza independents make significant gains, although no party has yet won majorityElections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directionsLatest news updates and analysis from election nightThe Labour party’s 14-year leadership in Birmingham has come to an end after Reform, Greens and pro-Gaza independents made significant gains in the UK’s second-largest city.No party...

King Charles features in surprise birthday tribute to David Attenborough

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Whimsical film shows relay of animals carrying centennial card from Balmoral Castle to naturalist in LondonKing Charles has featured in a surprise birthday tribute to David Attenborough, with a cast of wild animals helping to relay his handwritten congratulatory centenary card.The whimsical film, A Very Special Delivery, begins with the king writing his tribute in the library of Balmoral Castle. C...

Small Georgia town left in limbo after mayor fires entire police department

The Guardian • 4 months ago

The Cohutta town council will discuss reinstating the police and consider request for mayor's ‘immediate resignation’The town council in a small mountain community in the US state of Georgia called a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all the officers.The notice for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta town hall, sa...

Small Georgia town’s mayor doesn’t know what happens next after firing entire police department

The Guardian • 4 months ago

The Cohutta town council will discuss reinstating the police and consider request for mayor's ‘immediate resignation’The town council in a small mountain community in the US state of Georgia called a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all the officers.The notice for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta town hall, sa...

California becomes first state to provide a month of free diapers to all newborns

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Parents will soon receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving the hospital under a new program aimed at alleviating expensesCalifornia families welcoming newborns will soon receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving the hospital under a first-in-the-country program announced Friday by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.During the program’s first year, it will be offered at about 65 to 75 ...

Cracks showing for Labour close to backyards of Starmer’s top team

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Reform makes gains in Labour’s working-class heartlands, while Greens chip away at party’s progressive baseKeir Starmer hates to lose. Unsurprisingly, he refused to walk away and end his premiership as Labour’s local election losses began to trickle in on Friday morning. Upon entering Downing Street in July 2024 after leading Labour to a historic general election victory, Starmer promised the publ...

Plaid Cymru wins Welsh Senedd elections, ending 100 years of Labour control

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says he is ready to become first minister and form next Welsh governmentElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesPlaid Cymru has won the Welsh Senedd elections, ending 100 years of Labour dominance in Wales and blocking the momentum of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.The leader of the centre-left Welsh nationalist party, Rhun ap Iorwerth,...

Keir Starmer under pressure to agree exit plan after election mauling

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Senior Labour MPs urge prime minister to step down within year as party suffers loss of hundreds of English council seats and humbling in WalesElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesKeir Starmer is under pressure to set out a timeline for his departure after a crushing defeat in elections across Britain prompted senior Labour MPs to call for him to step...

2026 elections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Keir Starmer’s party lost out to Reform and the Greens, with no respite in Scotland, Wales or England. These maps show the scale of the historic resultsElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesLabour has suffered heavy losses across England, Scotland and Wales, losing ground to opponents on the left and the right in a fragmented political system.The graph...

Cracks showing for Labour close to back yards of Starmer’s top team

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Reform makes gains in Labour’s working-class heartlands while Greens chip away at party’s progressive base Keir Starmer hates to lose. Unsurprisingly, he refused to walk away and end his premiership as Labour’s local election losses began to trickle in on Friday morning. Upon entering Downing Street in July 2024 after leading Labour to a historic general election victory, Starmer promised the publ...

Washington shooting suspect seeks to bar DoJ officials from prosecution role

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Lawyers for Cole Allen say Todd Blanche and Jeanine Pirro could be considered victims or witnesses in caseA man charged with attacking the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is seeking to disqualify top justice department officials from direct involvement in prosecuting him because they could be considered victims or witnesses in the case, creating a potential conflict of interest.The ...

Reform wins across northern England overturn decades of Labour control

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Sunderland, Barnsley, Gateshead and South Tyneside among councils reporting gains for Farage’s party • Full results from England, Scotland and WalesNigel Farage chose Sunderland for the launch of Reform UK’s local election campaign because, he said, it was where he had first sensed the “big political earthquake” underfoot.A decade ago next month, the city was the first to declare its vote in the B...

Zack Polanski calls two-party politics dead after mayoral and council wins

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Greens leader celebrates his party’s first ever elected mayor, and winning three councils outrightElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesZack Polanski has declared Britain’s two-party politics “dead and buried” as his Green party won its first ever mayoral election and gained councillors across England, including winning three councils outright.As Labou...

Trump announces Russia-Ukraine three-day ceasefire from 9 May

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US president posts on Truth Social ceasefire will include suspension of all ‘kinetic activity’ and prisoner swapsDonald Trump has announced on social media that there will be a three-day ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine from 9 to 11 May.The US president said the ceasefire would include a suspension of all “kinetic activity” and a prisoner swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country. C...

Americans on hantavirus cruise ship reportedly to be quarantined in US

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US CDC personnel are reportedly meeting ship in Canary Islands to accompany Americans on a flight to NebraskaThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reportedly sending personnel to the Canary Islands to meet the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus outbreak, with plans to accompany American passengers back to the US on a chartered flight and place them into quarantine in Nebra...

CDC will reportedly bring Americans on hantavirus-stricken cruise to US for quarantine

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US CDC personnel are reportedly meeting ship in Canary Islands to accompany Americans on a flight to NebraskaThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reportedly sending personnel to the Canary Islands to meet the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus outbreak, with plans to accompany American passengers back to the US on a chartered flight and place them into quarantine in Nebra...

Elections 2026 live: Labour suffers historic defeat in Wales as Reform surges in English council elections and Greens make gains

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat with party pushed into third place behind Plaid Cymru and Reform2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votesWe’re getting statements from some of the political parties now as we wait for results.For the Conservatives, party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said:We have run an energetic and positive campaign, showcasing ...

Elections 2026 live: Labour suffers historic defeat in Wales; Starmer vows to fight on as Reform surge in English council elections

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat; John Swinney declares victory for SNP in Scotland2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votesWe’re getting statements from some of the political parties now as we wait for results.For the Conservatives, party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said:We have run an energetic and positive campaign, showcasing that we have a...