World News Hub

How the UAE’s decision to leave Opec could recast the Middle East

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Defection is damaging to Saudi Arabia’s prestige – and could strengthen the US hand in the regionThe United Arab Emirates’ decision to walk out of Opec is a political as much as business decision, and will reignite the simmering rows between the UAE and Saudi Arabia – which had been covered up by their shared anger with Iran over its attacks on the Gulf states since the start of the US-Israel war ...

‘Only yes means yes’: MEPs call for EU to adopt consent-based definition of rape

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Legislators say move would be crucial step towards addressing patchwork of laws in place across blocEurope live – latest updatesThe European parliament has called on the EU to draw up a standardised consent-based definition of rape, in what legislators described as a crucial step towards addressing the patchwork of laws, some of them insufficient, that now exist across the bloc.On Tuesday, 447 of ...

European parliament urges EU to draw up standardised consent-based definition of rape

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Eight EU members continue to include force or violence in their definitions in national criminal codesThe European parliament has called on the EU to draw up a standardised consent-based definition of rape, in what legislators described as a crucial step towards addressing the patchwork of laws, some of them insufficient, that currently exist across the bloc.On Tuesday, 447 of the parliament’s 720...

King Charles to address joint session of Congress – US politics live

The Guardian • 4 months ago

King’s speech to Congress to underline that ‘time and again our two countries have always found ways to come together’Sign up for the Breaking News US emailDonald Trump has reportedly signaled to his top advisers that he is dissatisfied with and unlikely to accept Iran’s latest proposal to end the war, which would reopen the strait of Hormuz and leave discussion of Iran’s nuclear program for a lat...

89-year-old man arrested over Athens double shooting

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Multiple people injured when gunman opened fire inside a social security office and later an appeals courtAn 89-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and wounding several people in attacks on government buildings in Athens.Hours after the double shooting in the Greek capital, authorities announced a suspect had been detained in the western port city of Patras, reportedly attempti...

Middle East crisis live: Trump hits back at German chancellor after Merz said Iran was ‘humiliating’ US

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US president claims Friedrich Merz ‘doesn’t know what he’s talking about’ after German leader criticised US strategy in IranUS is being ‘humiliated’ by Iran’s leadership, says Friedrich MerzHezbollah drone strikes target Israeli soldiers in southern LebanonSaudi Arabia is to host a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Jeddah later today, in what will be first in-person meeting of Gulf leader...

Starmer sees off major Labour rebellion over call for Mandelson inquiry

The Guardian • 4 months ago

No 10 deploys full weight to block parliamentary inquiry bid as MPs warn PM running out of political capitalKeir Starmer has seen off a major Labour rebellion over a bid to force a parliamentary investigation into his appointment of Peter Mandelson, but many of his own MPs warned he was running out of political capital.After Downing Street deployed its full weight to force Labour MPs to block a re...

Justice department files new criminal charges against ex-FBI director Comey

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Subject of charges remains unclear, after earlier case over congressional testimony was dismissedUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe justice department filed new criminal charges against James Comey, the former FBI director, on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter.The subject of the charges was not immediately clear and the justi...

UK politics: Starmer avoids privileges committee inquiry into vetting of Peter Mandelson – as it happened

The Guardian • 4 months ago

MPs rejected a Conservative party proposal for the prime minister to face a parliamentary inquiry into his appointment of Peter MandelsonQ: Was there pressure on you to approve Mandelson’s vetting?This is a reference to the claim that Keir Starmer misled MPs last week when he talked about no pressure being placed on the Foreign Office.One is during my tenure. I was not aware of any pressure on the...

US soldier pleads not guilty to charges of betting on Nicolás Maduro’s ouster

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Prosecutors allege Gannon Van Dyke won $400,000 using insider information to bet on Maduro raid on Polymarket The US army soldier charged with winning $400,000 by using insider information to bet on the removal of ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to fraud charges on Tuesday.Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, entered the plea in US district judge Margaret Garnett’s courtroom in M...

No 10 dismisses Reeves’s reported plan for freeze on private rents

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Downing Street says focus to remains on cutting bills, backing renters and lowering energy pricesDowning Street has dismissed a freeze on private sector rents even as Rachel Reeves left the door open to the idea, after the Guardian revealed the chancellor has been considering it as an option to cut the cost of living.A No 10 spokesperson said on Tuesday freezing private sector rents was “not the a...

Trump hails ‘special relationship’ during ceremonial welcome for King Charles’s state visit

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US president says Americans ‘have had no closer friends than the British’ amid recent tensions between both nationsDonald Trump has praised the “special relationship” between the US and the UK, as he hosted a ceremonial military welcome for Charles and Camilla at the White House.Against a backdrop of recent tensions between London and Washington, the US president, speaking on the second day of Kin...

Teen mariachi trio detained by ICE to open for Kacey Musgraves in Texas

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Gámez-Cuéllar brothers were arrested alongside parents in February and later released after bipartisan backlashThree teenage mariachi musicians who were temporarily detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February have been tapped to open for country singer Kacey Musgraves at several upcoming shows in Texas.On Monday, Musgraves announced that the Gámez-Cuéllar brothers Antonio, 18...

Starmer avoids privileges committee inquiry into vetting of Peter Mandelson – UK politics live

The Guardian • 4 months ago

MPs rejected a Conservative party proposal for the prime minister to face a parliamentary inquiry into his appointment of Peter MandelsonQ: Was there pressure on you to approve Mandelson’s vetting?This is a reference to the claim that Keir Starmer misled MPs last week when he talked about no pressure being placed on the Foreign Office.One is during my tenure. I was not aware of any pressure on the...

Virginia Giuffre’s brother criticizes King Charles III for not meeting survivors of Epstein abuse

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Sky Roberts said survivors ‘still fighting to be heard’ after king, whose brother Andrew was accused of assault by Giuffre, did not meet with themThe brother of the late Virginia Giuffre criticized King Charles III for not meeting with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse during his visit to the United States this week.“Survivors are here sitting with members of Congress, still fighting to be hear...

Starmer sees off Tory calls for inquiry into Mandelson role after No 10 flexes muscle

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Vote goes PM’s way but he faces anger from his own MPs who accuse him of creating perception of ‘cover-up’UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer saw off an opposition bid to refer him to a standards committee over Peter Mandelson’s appointment after Downing Street deployed its full weight to force Labour MPs to shore up the prime minister.However, the Labour leader bore the brunt of anger f...

King’s environmental views will never face a more obdurate listener than Trump

The Guardian • 4 months ago

US president has all but declared war on nature but that will not stop Charles quietly pressing his case during state visitOf the many clashes in worldview between King Charles III and Donald Trump, the greatest is on an issue the White House has sought to silence: the future of the planet.For more than 50 years, as the Prince of Wales, the environmentally minded Charles spoke out often, addressin...

Trump and King Charles’s clashing climate views are one schism the royal touch can’t heal

The Guardian • 4 months ago

King will probably press his passion for nature during US state visit, but his advocacy will fall on deaf earsOf the many clashes in worldview between King Charles III and Donald Trump, the greatest is on an issue the White House has sought to silence: the future of the planet.For more than 50 years, as the Prince of Wales, the environmentally minded Charles spoke out frequently, addressing UN sum...

MPs vote on whether Starmer should face privileges committee inquiry over vetting of Mandelson – UK politics live

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Badenoch accuses Labour MPs who obey the whip of ‘acting like sheep’ ahead of crunch Mandelson vetting row vote in CommonsQ: Was there pressure on you to approve Mandelson’s vetting?This is a reference to the claim that Keir Starmer misled MPs last week when he talked about no pressure being placed on the Foreign Office.One is during my tenure. I was not aware of any pressure on the substance of t...

Stranded whale Timmy swims on to barge in German rescue attempt

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Rescuers hope to move young male humpback from Baltic to North Sea after being stranded for a month near LübeckRescuers trying to save a stranded humpback whale off Germany’s Baltic coast have coaxed the mammal on to a barge in the hope the vessel can take it to safety in deeper waters.Amid intense media attention, the high-stakes rescue mission, funded by two multi-millionaires, is being watched ...

Russia claims its Africa Corps group prevented coup in Mali after rebels seize towns

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Kremlin-controlled paramilitaries also alleged it inflicted ‘irreplaceable losses’ on insurgents avoiding civilian casualtiesRussia’s defence ministry has claimed its Africa Corps – the successor to the former Wagner mercenary group – had prevented a coup in Mali over the weekend, avoiding mass civilian casualties and inflicting “irreplaceable losses” on rebel insurgents.It said in a statement tha...

Google reportedly signs classified AI deal with US Pentagon

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Tech company is latest Silicon Valley firm to sign agreement with US military despite widespread employee oppositionGoogle has reportedly signed a deal with the US Pentagon to use its artificial intelligence models for classified work. The tech company joins a growing list of Silicon Valley firms inking agreements with US military.The agreement allows the Pentagon to use Google’s AI for “any lawfu...

GM expecting $500m Trump tariff refund, boosting its 2026 earnings outlook

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Companies are now seeking refunds on tariffs after supreme court ruled Trump’s emergency levies were illegalSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxGeneral Motors is expecting a $500m tariff refund after the US supreme court struck down some of Donald Trump’s most sweeping levies.That has boosted the Detroit automaker’s outlook for 2026. On Tuesday, GM said it’...

US gas prices surge to highest level in four years, averaging $4.15 a gallon

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Oil prices surged after negotiators remained gridlocked over reopening of strait of Hormuz, sending prices $1 higher than last yearUS gas prices rose to their highest level in four years on Thursday, reaching an average $4.18 a gallon at the pump as US-Israeli peace talks with Iran remain at a standstill.The last time average US gas prices breached $4.15 a gallon was in April 2022, when oil prices...

Palestine Action ban created ‘culture of fear’, UK appeal court hears

The Guardian • 4 months ago

Home secretary is challenging high court decision that PA’s proscription interfered with freedom of speechThe ban on Palestine Action has created a “culture of fear” among those campaigning for Palestinian rights and judges were right to deem it unlawful, the court of appeal has heard.Shabana Mahmood is challenging the high court’s decision in February that Palestine Action’s proscription, the fir...