Australia's most prominent portrait prize was announced on Friday at the Art Gallery of NSW, where the finalist exhibition will open on Saturday

Stone being paid $50,000 a month to rebuild' relations between Washington and Myanmar's military-backed governmentUS lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of Donald Trump, has been condemned for accepting $50,000 a month to rebuild" relations between Washington and Myanmar's military-backed government.Myanmar's leaders have been internationally isolated since seizing power in a coup in 2021, and have repeatedly been accused of atrocities that may amount to war crimes. Activists say the military rulers, which recently held widely condemned sham" elections, are now trying to reassert themselves abroad. Continue reading...

Naturalist says he has been overwhelmed by greetings' as milestone is marked with event at Royal Albert HallDavid Attenborough said he had been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings" for his centenary on Friday and thanked wellwishers most sincerely".

Donald Trump says the ceasefire remains in place despite the strikes, with Iranian TV saying the situation is back to normal'The United States and Iran exchanged fire late on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire.Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting two ships at the strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas, as the US insisted it struck in retaliation. Continue reading...

Moscow steps up maritime presence in North Sea after UK threats to seize shadow fleet oil tankersBritain's Royal Navy tracked and followed a Russian frigate every day last month as it sailed from the Atlantic to the North Sea, as Moscow steps up its maritime presence after UK threats to seize shadow fleet oil tankers.The Russian navy's Admiral Grigorovich escorted six Russia-linked vessels during April, including at least three under economic sanction passing east through the Dover strait, while being watched continuously by four UK ships and helicopters. Continue reading...

Facebook and Instagram owner claims charges should not be calculated based on a company's global revenueMeta has launched a legal challenge against the UK's media regulator over the fees and fines regime it is enforcing under landmark digital safety legislation.The Facebook and Instagram owner is claiming that Ofcom's methodology for calculating the charges is flawed and should not be based on a company's global revenue. Breaches of the Online Safety Act can be punished by fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue (QWR) or 18m - whichever is higher. Continue reading...

A group of prominent Senate Democrats sent a letter to FCC chair, Brendan Carr, to protest the commission's order last week challenging ABC's licensesA group of prominent Senate Democrats sent a letter on Thursday to Brendan Carr, the Trump-aligned Federal Communications Commission chair, asking him to rescind the US media regulator's order last week requiring ABC to apply early to renew its television licenses.The eight ABC-owned station licenses were not originally up for renewal until 2028 at the earliest and 2031 at the latest; now, the renewal requests must be filed by the end of May. Continue reading...

Chi Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen convicted over surveillance of dissidents in shadow policing' operationA UK Border Force officer and Hong Kong trade official based in London have been found guilty of spying for China and surveilling dissidents through a shadow policing" operation.Chi Leung Peter" Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 65, also known as Bill, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of assisting a foreign intelligence service, making them the first people in British history to be convicted of spying for China. Continue reading...

Yona Simcha Schreiber from settlement in West Bank faces charge of assault motivated by hostility towards religious groupAn Israeli settler suspected of kicking and wounding a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem will go on trial for assault motivated by hostility towards a religious group, Israel's justice ministry has said.The attack on the nun, a 48-year-old researcher at Jerusalem's French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, occurred on Mount Zion, just outside the Old City. Continue reading...

The honour recognises Albanese's work documenting and denouncing violations of international law in Gaza'The Spanish government awarded the UN legal expert Francesca Albanese one of its highest civilian honours in recognition of what it termed her extensive work in documenting and denouncing violations of international law in Gaza".Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer who serves as UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, has been vocal in her criticisms of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which she has described as genocide. Continue reading...

Retail group with 4,800 stores worldwide expects drop in profits this year amid muted market'

Smart went missing in California after returning from a party, and was declared legally dead in 2002Authorities plan Thursday to enter the second day of their search of a home connected to the man convicted of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996, according to law enforcement.The San Luis Obispo county sheriff's office served the warrant Wednesday in the continuing investigation into Smart's disappearance. Her remains were never found and she was declared legally dead in 2002. Paul Flores was convicted in October 2022 and ultimately sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Continue reading...

New PEN America report analysed 3,743 unique titles removed from libraries and classrooms and found books about activism and social movements were targetedA new report has found that the number of banned non-fiction books doubled during the 2024-2025 school year in the US.PEN America analysed the 3,743 unique titles removed from school libraries and classrooms in the July to June period and found that over 1,100 or 29% were non-fiction, more than double the year prior. Continue reading...

Additional funding for the costly 90km public transport project promised ahead of state's November election

Police say man is not suspected of involvement in the theft itself and the phone has not been recoveredPolice investigating the theft of a phone belonging to Keir Starmer's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney have arrested a man.The man, who was arrested on Wednesday in Peckham, south London, is suspected of receiving the phone after it was stolen, the Metropolitan police said on Thursday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Regime, which executed 243 people last year for drug offences, accused of investing in entertainment to whitewash its human rights recordThe acclaimed Australian film-maker Phillip Noyce is being paid by the Saudi regime to make a feature film portraying the repressive state's narcotics officers as heroes.The Watchful Eyes, based on a real Saudi ministry of interior narcotics case, is billed as a dramatic depiction of the heroism of security men in combating drugs". Continue reading...

Justice department targets MacArthur Park, which has long struggled with fentanyl use, overdoses and homelessnessFederal authorities arrested 18 people in Los Angeles in a crackdown on drugs in MacArthur Park, the Department of Justice announced on Wednesday.The DoJ said it was targeting an open-air drug market" in the park near downtown, which has long struggled with fentanyl use and overdoses and has at times had large encampments of unhoused people. Continue reading...

As Reform vows to block solar and windfarms, energy leaders say renewables offer most secure future, insulating UK from hostile forces

Some MPs accuse Burnham of undermining local election messaging by agreeing to speak at event later this month

Steve Roth was responding to the announcement by New York's mayor of tax on second homes worth more than $5m

Almost two-thirds of respondents said US used to be a great place for immigrants but no longer is

President issues fresh ultimatum despite US claims of progress in stalled negotiations

US president says war will end if Tehran agrees to deal, but that bombing starts' again if it does notOil prices fell and stock markets rose as Donald Trump said the war with Iran would end and the strait of Hormuz would be open to all" if Tehran struck a deal with Washington.The US president posted on social media: Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran." Continue reading...

Rami Elghandour tells Guardian in exclusive interview that cancellation sends dangerous' message to studentsRutgers University abruptly rescinded its invitation to a prominent alum who was slated to deliver a graduation speech next week after some students complained about social media posts he had published about Palestine.Rami Elghandour - a tech entrepreneur, graduate of Rutgers' School of Engineering, and executive producer of the Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab - was set to deliver a commencement address at the school's campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey on 15 May. Continue reading...

Demonstrators, angered by Russia's inclusion at arts festival, shouted Curated by Putin, dead bodies included'The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale was forced to temporarily shutter its doors on the second day of the preview after the activist group Pussy Riot staged a chaotic protest against the country's inclusion in the art festival.Wearing pink balaclavas, the protesters ran towards the Russian pavilion where they gathered outside and lit pink, blue and yellow flares while playing punk music and shouting slogans, including Blood is Russia's Art". Continue reading...

Conservative leader says her party are willing to work with people who will help deliver Conservative policies'Labour has criticised Zack Polanski for saying he was concerned about how the suspect in the Golders Green stabbings was treated when he was arrested by the police.Referring to what Polanski said about this in his Today interview this morning (see 9.33am), a Labour party spokesperson said:Our brave police ran towards a suspected terrorist and tackled him while he was still carrying a knife and before they could handcuff him.The fact that Zack Polanski is still sympathising with this individual is utterly astounding. For the Green party leader to be litigating the case for the defence against the police shows whose side he is truly on.The latest unemployment figures for February showed a fall, interest rates were expected to come down, the markets were pricing in a couple of cuts during the course of the year.The truth is, with the effect of the Iran war, we can't count on any of that at the moment. There is likely to be an effect on prices, which feeds through from energy costs, and there may well be labour market implications. Continue reading...

Jordan Linden sentenced to 18 months for crimes committed over 10 years between 2011 and 2021A former Scottish National party council leader has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of sexual offences against young men and teenagers as young as 14.Jordan Linden, once considered a rising star in the SNP, was convicted of five sexual assaults on young men after a trial at Falkirk sheriff court in March, which heard that the SNP had downplayed or ignored" complaints about his behaviour. Continue reading...

Profits jump to 122m at ticketing retailer but it expects flat or declining revenues over the coming year

Chedrick Greene will have to defend his new perch in midterms, as Republican challenger vows to run again

Pontiff responds after US president accuses him of endangering a lot of Catholics' with stance on Iran war

FCA focuses on marketing, misleading ads, unfair exit fees and people being signed up without their permissionThe City regulator has launched a review of claims management companies amid concerns that firms are misleading victims of financial scandals, such as car finance, about their compensation.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said some companies were pursuing aggressive marketing, misleading advertising and unfair exit fees". Continue reading...

Plans to be included in king's speech will allow tougher action against proxies for foreign powers such as Iran

This blog is now closed.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood join Conan O'Brien to discuss forthcoming album Foreign TonguesOn Tuesday afternoon in New York, the Rolling Stones gathered friends, journalists and fellow artists for a preview of their forthcoming 25th album, Foreign Tongues.Before the trio stepped on stage, host Conan O'Brien deadpanned that perhaps, finally, this is the album where the band will finally make it after decades of obscurity". The audience, which included Leonardo DiCaprio, director Baz Luhrmann and actor Odessa A'zion, laughed appreciatively. Continue reading...

In-depth study also reveals patients from black African and Caribbean backgrounds are less likely to receive timely carePeople from black backgrounds in England are twice as likely to experience strokes as their white counterparts, while also being less likely to receive timely care, according to the largest study of its kind.The study, conducted by researchers at King's College London and presented at the European Stroke Organisation conference, analysed 30 years of stroke incidents from the South London Stroke Register, one of the longest-running population-based stroke registers in the world. Continue reading...

Unions group wants rate returned from 3% to 8% after big four UK lenders reveal 14bn total profit in first quarterAn increased windfall tax should be imposed on the UK's largest banks according to trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost 14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence caused by the Iran war.The Trades Union Congress (TUC) renewed its call for an increase in the current bank surcharge, which was reduced from 8% to 3% of profits above 100m by the Conservative government in 2023, as banks benefit from the high interest rate environment. Continue reading...

French president pitches in for Nikol Pashinyan, who faces stiff challenge from pro-Russia parties in vote next monthEmmanuel Macron has made an unabashed pre-election pitch on behalf of Armenia's prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, saying the country's destiny lay with Europe.The French president also accused Russia of abandoning Armenia after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war that led to Azerbaijan displacing tens of thousands of Armenians. Continue reading...

Jonathan Rinderknecht's attorneys say he's being used as scapegoat for Los Angeles fire department's failure to fully extinguish earlier blaze

This live blog is now closed.

US launched an operation on Monday in the Gulf, dragging the region back to the brink of full-scale war

This year's winners also include Jill Lepore's book on the constitution and Brian Goldstone's on housing insecurity

Costume Art pairs couture pieces with items from its collection in exploration of many kinds of human bodiesSpeaking at the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute spring exhibition in New York, Anna Wintour described the first Monday in May as her favourite day of the year, and also my most terrifying one".This particular Monday may be more high-stakes than previous years, with Monday night's Met Gala for the exhibition's launch mired in controversy, owing to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos's sponsorship of the event. It is also the inaugural exhibition for the Costume Institute's new home: a 12,000 sq ft space, named the Conde M Nast Galleries, that puts the museum's fashion exhibitions in a considerably more high-profile spot, right off its Great Hall. Continue reading...

Result in key Indian state is set to have significant implications for the country's political landscapeNarendra Modi's party has won a resounding election victory in West Bengal, a state which had been a rare opposition stronghold, expanding his unrivalled consolidation of power across the country.It is the first time that the Indian prime minister's Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has won assembly elections in West Bengal, a large and politically significant state in eastern India. Continue reading...

The 26th president was wounded in the attack but the thick manuscript in his breast pocket helped save his lifeThe first page of a thick manuscript that helped slow a bullet and save the life of Theodore Roosevelt during a 1912 assassination attempt has been uncovered by a presidential historian in Pennsylvania.Signed by the 26th president, who at the time was seeking another term in the White House after leaving office almost four years earlier, the document from Roosevelt was found in the possession of a private collector and has not been seen in more than a century. Continue reading...

After banging the battle drum, the US president is now in Nobel Peace Prize mode, promising to free marooned shipsProject Freedom" has all the trappings of a classic episode of the Trump Show, the reality series that the rest of the world does not just have to watch, but live through and survive. It has a dramatic plot twist, it is bathed in a self-projected beatific light, and the trailer looked far more promising that the reality.Trump spent a long weekend in Florida banging the war drum. Iran had not paid a big enough price" for its past misdeeds, he wrote in an online post before spending Friday afternoon revving up a cheering crowd at America's largest retirement community. Continue reading...

Pop star did not appear in court after being arrested in March for allegedly driving erraticallyBritney Spears pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of reckless driving in the driving under the influence case against her, sparing the 44-year-old from any jail time.The pop star, who was initially charged with driving while under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, did not appear in court in Ventura county. Because she faced a misdemeanor, she was not required to attend proceedings. Continue reading...

Order signed by Samuel Alito blocks ruling that prevented providers from prescribing mifepristone through the mailThe US supreme court has temporarily reinstated nationwide access to mifepristone, blocking a ruling that threatened to upend accessibility of an abortion pill involved in nearly two-thirds of pregnancy terminations across the country.On Monday, justice Samuel Alito signed an order pausing a fifth US circuit court of appeals ruling that had imposed new limits on the drug. That decision, issued on Friday, called on preventing abortion providers from prescribing mifepristone through the mail. Continue reading...

As the cost of the scheme blows out, the government has announced the full discount will be retained for another year, after which it will only apply to EVs costing less than $75,000

The radical left leader will seek presidency for the fourth time - despite previously vowing to stand asideJean-Luc Melenchon, France's radical left leader, has confirmed he will run again for president next spring, saying it was urgent for the country to stand up against war being waged by the US and Israel in the Middle East.The 74-year-old veteran leader of La France Insoumise (LFI), announced in an interview with the French broadcaster TF1 that he would run for the presidency for the fourth time in 2027. Continue reading...

Authority says workers and councillors threatened for explaining the council's position' as union jack and St George's flags taken downResidents, council staff and councillors have been subject to rising abuse, harassment and intimidation" directly linked to the removal of unauthorised flags, a local authority has said.Shropshire council said it had recorded a rise in reports of abuse with staff and members being threatened for explaining the council's position" on the removal of flags and when they attempt to do so - even in day-to-day work to repair street lighting", the authority added. Continue reading...