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Politics
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Newsroom Edition: What can Albanese learn from Starmer's fall? – podcast
This week, Anthony Albanese’s UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, succumbed to mounting pressure and resigned as prime minister. A number of comparisons have been made between the pair, including resounding election wins followed by a decline in the polls while insurgent rightwing parties gained ground. Josephine Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher, Gabrielle Jackson and Guardian Australia’s international editor, Virginia Harrison, about how Albanese can avoid Starmer’s fate Read more: Continue reading...
Britain’s six prime ministers since 2016 – ranked!
From Cameron’s Brexit exit to Starmer’s Burnham bow-out, half a dozen PMs have gone. So who’s the best of the bunch? The UK has had six prime ministers in the last 10 years – with a seventh likely to be in place by as early as mid-July. John Crace ranks those who have been booted out of Downing Street between 2016 and 2026. Continue reading...
Who is Tommy Robinson? The Karl Stefanovic guest who may have cost Australia’s famed TV host his job
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is an anti-Islamic, far-right political activist well known in the UK and Europe Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The man who calls himself Tommy Robinson has roared into prominence in Australia after the morning TV mainstay Karl Stefanovic posted an interview with Robinson for his podcast. The fallout was swift. Nine Entertainment, Australia’s largest locally owned media empire, is widely expected to sever ties with Stefanovic, and he will not appear on a radio show with Eddie McGuire on Friday. Continue reading...
Archbishop of Canterbury calls for end to Israeli occupation of Palestine
Sarah Mullally ends visit to region with call for two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace The archbishop of Canterbury has called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine after a pilgrimage in which she met Palestinians attacked by settlers and others detained without trial. Sarah Mullally, the head of the Church of England, and the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, issued a joint letter on Thursday urging Anglicans around the world to press politicians “to take all necessary measures to establish a credible path towards ending the occupation”. Continue reading...
US supreme court allows Trump administration to strip Haitians and Syrians of protected status
Decision effects hundreds of thousands of people who have permission to live and work in the US because their home countries are unsafe Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The US supreme court on Thursday ruled in favor of the Trump administration ’s bid to strip temporary protected status (TPS) from hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians, who were legally in the US and protected from deportation. People with TPS are given the permission to live and work in the US because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deemed their home countries to be unsafe due to war, political instability or natural disasters. In the past year, Trump officials have attempted to cut the program for various countries, opening the door to the removal of hundreds of thousands of protected immigrants in the US. Continue reading...
David Clayton-Thomas, lead singer for Blood, Sweat & Tears, dies aged 84
The Canadian musician, who achieved major hits such as Spinning Wheel and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, died peacefully at a Toronto hospital David Clayton-Thomas, lead singer of 60s and 70s group Blood, Sweat & Tears has died at 84. According to his publicist, the Canadian singer died peacefully at a hospital in Toronto with no cause of death given. Continue reading...
Supreme court lets Trump turn back asylum seekers at US-Mexico border
Decision allows Trump administration to block migrants from entering US soil and the right to claim asylum Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The supreme court has given the Trump administration a green light to turn back asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border, in a decision that fundamentally reshapes the US asylum system. The Trump administration has sought for years to block migrants from setting foot on US soil, where federal law guarantees them the right to claim asylum and protection from persecution. The ruling will allow that practice to resume, concluding a battle that has spanned three administrations. Continue reading...
US supreme court rules in favor of former Monsanto company in pesticide case
Justices rule that federal law blocks state cases over label warnings on Roundup by people alleging it caused illness The US supreme court has ruled in favor of the former Monsanto company in a closely watched case that limits the way for people to sue pesticide companies for alleged illnesses or injuries. The decision was made in a 7-2 vote, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh offering the majority opinion and Justice Jackson writing the dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch. Continue reading...
US supreme court strikes down Hawaii’s gun restrictions in major second amendment ruling
The law banned people from carrying guns in most public spaces and private property without owner’s permission Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox The US supreme court struck down a restrictive gun law in the state of Hawaii that bans people from carrying guns in certain public spaces and on private property without the permission of the property’s owner. At issue was a 2023 state law that barred carrying a firearm on private property without the owner’s approval and created a list of more than a dozen “sensitive places” where guns cannot be carried, such as beaches and restaurants that serve alcohol. Continue reading...
Teenage boy found not guilty of murdering Aria Thorpe, nine, in Somerset
Jury clears the 16-year-old of murder and manslaughter over the death of Aria, who died from a single stab wound A teenage boy has been found not guilty of the murder and manslaughter of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe, who died after being stabbed in Weston-super-Mare in December last year. A jury at Bristol crown court cleared the 16-year-old of both charges on Thursday. Continue reading...
Andy Burnham: who’s really got his ear? – podcast
As Andy Burnham looks set to go unchallenged in his leadership bid, Labour MPs are now jostling for a position in his cabinet. Who will have his ear, and what does that tell us about his leadership? Continue reading...
Perpetrators of LGBTQ+ conversion practices could face prison and unlimited fines under new bill
Government draft bill to ban abusive practices in England and Wales hailed as ‘historic’ by campaigners Perpetrators of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ against LGBTQ+ people could face up to five years in prison under proposals hailed as a “historic and long overdue” milestone by campaigners. The government has published its draft conversion practices bill, which would ban abusive conversion practices that aim to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity in England and Wales. Continue reading...
Tell us: were you born on 4 July?
We are looking to hear from people born on 4 July about what it means to share a birthday with the US when it turns 250 years old The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary of its independence on 4 July, marking a milestone in the nation’s history with events and commemorations across the country. For some Americans, however, the date carries a more personal significance: it’s also their birthday. Continue reading...
Americans: how do you feel about the country’s future after 250 years of independence?
As the country reaches this historic milestone, we would like to hear from people in the US on how they are feeling about the country’s future The United States will mark 250 years since declaring independence from the British on 4 July, with commemorations in Washington DC overseen by Donald Trump and a series of events planned across the National Mall. The milestone also comes at a turbulent moment for the country. Internationally, the Trump administration has moved away from some longstanding European allies while navigating ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Continue reading...
Pentagon restores mandatory flu shots for all recruits amid boot camp outbreak
Move comes after Hegseth made shot optional for military in April and Texas outbreak has sickened nearly 300 people The Pentagon has said that boot camps for all the military services are once again requiring the flu vaccination for all recruits after the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth , made the shot optional for the military at the end of April. The development on Wednesday was confirmed by a Pentagon official to the Associated Press and came amid a growing, weeks-long, flu outbreak at the US air force’s boot camp at Lackland air force base in San Antonio, Texas . Continue reading...
Senate Republicans reject Iran war powers measure after Trump pressure
Late-night vote came hours after US president berated GOP senators over opposition to the conflict Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Senate Republicans rejected a war powers resolution in a late-night vote, hours after they were berated by Donald Trump over opposition to his controversial war on Iran. The US president was said to have harangued GOP senators during a lunch on Capitol Hill earlier on Wednesday. The previous day, they had angered the White House by allowing a vote to block Trump’s war in Iran. Continue reading...
Make pension tax relief only available to savers prepared to invest in UK, Andy Haldane says
British Chambers of Commerce chief calls for ‘home bias’ on retirement savings to close funding gap for SMEs Pension tax relief worth more than £50bn should only be offered to savers who are prepared to invest in Britain, according to Andy Haldane, the president of the British Chambers of Commerce. There should be a “home bias” that directs retirement savings into UK businesses, closing a funding gap that hampers the growth of small- and medium-sized businesses, he said. Continue reading...
Russia used Israeli firm’s tool to crack phone months after ties severed, report finds
Case of Andrei Pivovarov raises questions about how much control Cellebrite has over its own software Russian authorities used tools from the Israeli company Cellebrite to break into the phone of a political prisoner, months after the company said it cancelled its contracts with Russia, an investigation by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab research unit has found . The case raises questions about how much control Cellebrite has over its own software, which allows users to easily break into phones and examine their contents. The tools are sold worldwide and widely used by police forces in the UK and the US. Continue reading...
Exotic hazard: golfers confront 3-metre-long boa constrictors on UK course
Pair of sick snakes discovered at club in County Durham presumed to have been dumped there by owner For most golfers, the biggest hindrance they are likely to come across during a round is a strong gust of wind or getting their ball caught in a bunker. For golfers in County Durham, however, the obstacles that players have encountered are 3 metres long and covered in scales. Two boa constrictors have been found on Blackwell Grange Golf Club in Darlington one week apart, with the first being found on 13 June during a children’s golf lesson when a 12-year-old girl’s shot landed directly on the snake. Continue reading...
Three in five young gun violence survivors do not receive mental healthcare – this California bill can fix that
The Thrive Act will create a pilot program that offers mental health resources for shooting survivors and witnesses under 25 When Marvin Pérez and his family moved from their home country of Guatemala to Oakland, California , he thought it would lead to a better life for them all. But two years ago, when he was 23, Pérez was walking home from a store just four blocks from his family’s house. Someone drove past him and shot at Pérez multiple times, hitting him in his left leg. His physical recovery was difficult. The bullet couldn’t be removed and remains lodged inside the leg. Pérez spent about three months doing physical therapy and resting at home, which meant he couldn’t play soccer, his favorite pastime. The mental toll he endured, however, was far tougher. During the day, all he could think about was the shooting, and when he slept, he had nightmares about what happened to him. It was made even harder by the fact that he felt as if he didn’t have anyone he could share these feelings with. Continue reading...
Backsliding on climate would drive Labour into obscurity, Zack Polanski says
Debate in Labour and union movement over climate commitments as many call for Burnham not to allow drilling in North Sea Analysis: ‘Act on the evidence outside the window’: Andy Burnham urged to stick to net zero targets if he becomes PM Backsliding on climate action would drive the Labour party into political obscurity, Zack Polanski has warned, as trade union leaders said more drilling in the North Sea would not help UK workers. The Green party leader, speaking to the Guardian as searing heat swept the country for the second time this year, urged Andy Burnham – widely expected to be the UK’s next prime minister – to be bold on climate justice. He said any move to water down the party’s commitments would have dire consequences at the ballot box. Continue reading...
Trump to meet House speaker in attempt to break legislative gridlock – US politics live
Trump suddenly scrapped the signing of a pivotal bipartisan housing bill yesterday, demanding the Senate pass his voter ID bill Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. A dramatic day is in store in Washington DC as Donald Trump heads for a crucial meeting with Mike Johnson, the House speaker, in an attempt to break a legislative gridlock as huge political fireworks have detonated on Capitol Hill far ahead of anything resembling a Fourth of July celebration. Maryland’s Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen is endorsing the progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate primary, a split with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, the Associated Press reports as an exclusive. The US supreme court is expected to issue opinions at 10am ET and most of the big cases have not yet been ruled upon. We await immigration and finance-related opinions in particular. Huge focus on the Hill where the House speaker, Mike Johnson, meets with Trump at 2pm, with both hoping the House will be persuaded to take a vote and end a rebellion from within the right wing of the Republican caucus over the Save Act to tighten up on who can vote in US elections. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana got into a shouting match with Trump at the Senate lunch on Wednesday after Trump admonished four senators, including him, for backing a resolution to rein in the war in the Middle East. Kennedy reportedly responded: “You have not told the American people what’s going on” with the war, adding afterwards to reporters: “It was supposed to last four weeks. It’s lasted four months,” according to Politico. Continue reading...
‘Act on the evidence outside the window’: Andy Burnham urged to stick to net zero targets if he becomes PM
Mayor of Manchester is coming under pressure from some to ditch net zero targets but this could be highly damaging on many levels UK politics live – latest updates Britain’s net zero economy is booming. The sector is worth £100bn a year to the UK , has outpaced other sectors , and supports higher-paying jobs than the average. For a union leader to suggest that the man who has overseen this impressive record – the energy secretary, Ed Miliband – would be a “noose around the neck” of job creation , as Unite’s Sharon Graham has done, might seem extraordinary. Continue reading...
Detroit Lions star Terrion Arnold arrested on kidnapping, armed robbery charges
Accused of being ‘primary conspirator’ in targeted plot Florida attorney: Potential sentence is up to life in prison Team decline to comment on cornerback’s situation Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold has been arrested in connection to a kidnapping and robbery in Florida and faces felony charges, officials said Wednesday. Arnold, 23, is accused of being the “primary conspirator” before three men in their late teens were held at gunpoint, battered and pistol-whipped in February in Tampa, the city’s police department said in a statement. Some of their belongings were stolen, police said. Continue reading...