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Keir Starmer was on the brink of a leadership contest this week, but he pulled it back. That does not mean his rivals have gone away. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to Kiran Stacey about one of the most hotly tipped contenders: Wes StreetingKeir Starmer was on the brink of a leadership contest this week, but he pulled it back. That does not mean his rivals have gone away, with one of the most hotly tipped leadership candidates the health secretary, Wes Streeting.Earlier this week, Labour's leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, held an astonishing press conference calling for Starmer to resign. Meanwhile, in Westminster, Streeting was preparing to publish all his messages with Peter Mandelson to get ahead of swirling rumours about his friendship with the disgraced former ambassador to the US. But this kicked off speculation that Streeting had co-ordinated with Sarwar's team to put pressure on Starmer. While Streeting has denied this, the whole affair has put the health secretary back in the spotlight for his potential leadership plans. Continue reading...

Voting was largely peaceful in an election seen as a test of Bangladesh's democracy after years of political turmoil under autocratic rulerThe Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) led by Tarique Rahman has claimed a sweeping victory in the country's first election since a gen-Z uprising toppled the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.This victory was expected. It is not surprising that the people of Bangladesh have placed their trust in a party ... capable of realising the dreams that our youth envisioned during the uprising," said Salahuddin Ahmed, a leading BNP committee member. Continue reading...

Despite premier Chris Minns's objection to an inquiry, Law Enforcement Conduct Commission says it is in public interest to investigate alleged misconduct'

UK charity warns against excessive academic pressure and suggests reducing the number of high-stakes testsExam stress at age 15 can increase the risk of depression and self-harm into early adulthood, research suggests.Academic pressure is known to have a detrimental impact on mood and overall wellbeing, but until now few studies had examined the long-term effects on mental health. Continue reading...

Men praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president's visit

Glimpse of sun after weeks of unrelenting rain marks end of longest sunless period in area since records beganAberdeen has finally had some sunshine, for the first time in 21 days - marking the end of the longest sunless period in the area since Met Office records began in 1957.

Exclusive: in 2025 briefing to Wes Streeting, officials warned reputation of tech firm behind US ICE operations would hinder rollout of data system in UKHealth officials fear Palantir's reputation will hinder the delivery of a vital" 330m NHS contract, according to briefings seen by the Guardian, sparking fresh calls for the deal to be scrapped.In 2023, ministers selected Palantir, a US surveillance technology company that also works for the Israeli military and Donald Trump's ICE operation, to build an AI-enabled data platform to connect disparate health information across the NHS. Continue reading...

Former shadow defence minister wins partyroom vote, ending Ley's tumultuous nine-month reign as the first female leader of the Liberals

Maker of chatbot boasting coding ability said annualized revenue grew tenfold in each of past three years, to $14bnThe artificial intelligence company Anthropic said on Thursday it raised $30bn in its latest funding round that values the Claude maker and OpenAI rival at $380bn, underscoring the breakneck pace of AI investments.The round, led by the Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC and hedge fund Coatue Management, is among the largest private fundraising deals on record and comes just five months after Anthropic closed its previous round at a $183bn valuation - meaning the company has more than doubled in value since September. Continue reading...

Canadian authorities seized firearms from the residence approximately two years ago but later returned themPolice have said they were called on multiple occasions to the home of the teenage suspect behind one of Canada's deadliest school shootings after concerns were raised regarding mental health problems and weapons.Six people, including a teacher and five children, were killed in a school shooting on Tuesday in the western Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge. About 25 other people were injured and two of them remain in critical but stable condition. Continue reading...

Much-needed supplies but no oil arrive on navy ships as Trump stokes island nation's economic crisisAs the sun came up on a flat calm Florida Straits, two ships arrived off the port of Havana: the Isla Holbox, a squat logistics ship, followed by the more aggressive looking Papaloapan, whose bow ramp gave the appearance of a large beetle.The two Mexican navy ships docked on Thursday laden with humanitarian aid as part of Mexico's efforts to support Cuba amid a deepening crisis exacerbated by Donald Trump's economic pressure campaign. Continue reading...

Ursula von der Leyen promises action plan to boost and protect sectors including defence, AI and clean techEU leaders agreed to move ahead with a Buy European" policy to protect strategic sectors" of European industry, at a summit on how to secure the continent's future in a more volatile global economy.At a moated castle in the east Belgian countryside, the EU's 27 leaders gathered on Thursday for a brainstorming session on how Europe could regain its economic competitiveness relative to the US and China at a time of economic threats and political turbulence. Continue reading...

Chris Wormald steps down by mutual consent' after a year in post with Antonia Romeo expected to succeed himKeir Starmer's attempt to shake up his top team after the disastrous Peter Mandelson scandal began on Thursday, when he forced out his most senior civil servant with a view to replacing him with Antonia Romeo.The prime minister announced that Chris Wormald was stepping down by mutual consent" after just over a year as cabinet secretary, with Romeo almost certain to succeed him as the first woman in the job. Continue reading...

Tom Homan says Trump has backed significant drawdown' in the state, where two US citizens have been killed

Job losses and programming cancellations expected after Tim Davie tells staff broadcaster is not a protected species'The BBC is to pursue cuts of up to 600m that will result in job losses and the end of some programming, amid concerns at a decline in the number of households paying the licence fee.Tim Davie, the outgoing director general, told staff that the broadcaster was not a protected species" and that 10% of the BBC's costs would have to be cut over the next three years. Continue reading...

Exclusive: TSSA general secretary wants Rayner to take over after Gorton byelection which she expects party to lose

Downing Street says Wormald to stand down but does not announce replacementHere is video of Jim Ratcliffe making his comment about the UK being colonised" by immigrants.Kemi Badenoch has urged Keir Starmer to delay the departure of Sir Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, so that he remains in post to oversee the release of government documents relating to Peter Mandelson's time as ambassador to Washington.It is hard to escape the conclusion that the cabinet secretary is simply the latest person to be thrown under a bus by this prime minister.It is all the more concerning to be changing cabinet secretary in the midst of the ongoing scandal over the appointment of Lord Mandelson and his conduct in office.Changing the cabinet secretary in the middle of this scandal - or more precisely forcing out the incumbent without any clear process - would be an extraordinary thing to do.Any individual appointed in the circumstances, without a full process to point to and in midst of managing a scandal, could find it difficult to demonstrate impartiality. Continue reading...

Officer alleged to have had romantic relationship' with daughter' of man listed as his brother' in investigationA federal immigration supervisor who allegedly lived with his undocumented girlfriend has been charged with harboring an undocumented person, Texas federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.Andres Wilkinson's alleged romantic relationship" with this woman caught the eye of authorities last spring. Authorities later received information indicating" the woman was Wilkinson's niece, according to a criminal complaint. Continue reading...

The Monaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he is sorry that his choice of language has offended some people', after growing outrage over his comments that the UK was being colonised by immigrants'. The Manchester United co-owner has faced a mounting backlash since making the remarks, which have been labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of far-right narratives'. Lucy Hough speaks to the sports writer and columnist Jonathan Liew - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Labor unions are fundraising and providing mutual aid for workers affected by ICE surges in Minnesota and across USLabor unions are fundraising for workers affected by the surge of immigration enforcement across the US, providing legal and financial support to members impacted by the brutal crackdown.Nearly $20,000 was raised for a home-care worker, Maria, a member of Service Employees International Union Local 503 in Salem, Oregon, and a US citizen who was attacked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on 29 January. Continue reading...

The Bob Coveiro (the Gravedigger) Law recognises the emotional bond between guardians and their pets'A dog that remained beside his former owner's grave for 10 years has now given his name to a new state law allowing pets to be buried alongside their loved ones in Sao Paulo.The new law - already being informally referred to as the Bob Coveiro (the Gravedigger) Law, in tribute to its inspiration - was signed this week by the governor of Brazil's most populous state, the conservative Tarcisio de Freitas. Continue reading...

Advocate general questions decision, saying reforms needed to unfreeze about 10bn have not been carried out

From his public persona to a sense that he sold the country a pup, many factors seems to feed a sense of great dislike'

To help combat the impact of screen-time creep, the Countdown word supremo has a few suggestions

Report on Islamic State says Ahmed al-Sharaa was targeted twice by IS front group that bombed Damascus churchFive separate plots to assassinate Syria's president or his senior ministers were foiled last year, the UN has said in a report on Islamic State.According to the report, the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was targeted twice, once in northern Aleppo and another time in southern Daraa, by Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, an IS front group that carried out a bombing of a church in Damascus last summer. Continue reading...

Twenty-seven entries shortlisted in 21 categories including website of the year and newspaper of the yearThe Guardian has been nominated for more than 20 honours at this year's Press Awards, including for website of the year, daily newspaper of the year and newspaper of the year (daily and Sunday).Twenty-seven entries from the Guardian have been shortlisted across 21 different categories by the judges of the UK's prestigious journalism awards. Continue reading...

ACT government confirms it raised reports of boy's fate with foreign affairs department, amid unverified claims he died last week

Consumers and businesses are not yet taking the hint despite six interest rate cuts

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GDP in last three months of 2025 also hit by weak consumer spending, with little momentum going into this year

Nigel Dalton says he sought to redeem himself in the eyes of God' by crossing the floor in an attempt to overturn the LNP's abortion debate gag order

Despite high needs, the Merseyside borough has the most youth work black holes' of any local authority in England

System used for civil servants not thorough enough for those with baggage' of years in politics or business, Peter Ricketts saysDowning Street cannot appoint politicians or business figures to senior diplomatic posts using the same security vetting it uses to check civil servants, a former national security adviser has said.Peter Ricketts said there had to be more awkward questions" asked of a person such as Peter Mandelson than the system allows, given all the baggage" of his three decades in politics and business. Continue reading...

Exclusive: First mapping of youth centres in decades shows poorer areas in north worst affected by cuts since 2010

Referendum on immigration limit could threaten EU agreements and cripple economy, say Swiss businessesSwitzerland will vote this summer on a proposal from the far-right Swiss People's party (SVP) to limit the country's population to 10 million, a move that would threaten key agreements with the EU and, opponents say, cripple its economy.The government said on Wednesday the referendum on the SVP's No to a 10 million Switzerland" initiative, which is strongly opposed by both chambers of parliament and the business and financial services community, would be held on 10 June. Continue reading...

With Chris Wormald being forced out, Romeo is a frontrunner with a reputation for being forthrightAntonia Romeo is not a typical civil servant, according to almost everyone who has worked with or met her in a professional context.Charming, ambitious and not afraid to publicise her own achievements, Romeo was on the shortlist to be cabinet secretary a year ago when Keir Starmer opted instead for a classic Sir Humphrey" choice in Chris Wormald. Continue reading...

Move is a backwards step', company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as MaxRussia has attempted to fully block" WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said.The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app. Continue reading...

Jailed then exiled in London, Rahman returns home as the main contender to be next prime minister of BangladeshTarique Rahman, who after 17 years in exile is the main contender to be the next prime minister of Bangladesh, has pledged to end entrenched corruption and put the country on a new path" as voting began in the first free and fair elections in almost two decades.Speaking to the Guardian before polls opened on Thursday morning, Rahman promised a new era of clean politics, including a top down, no tolerance" approach to graft, if his Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) was brought to power. Continue reading...

A teacher and five students among those killed in attack in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on TuesdayCanadian police have identified the suspect who carried out a school massacre in remote British Columbia as an 18-year old woman with a history of mental health problems.Six people, including a teacher and five students, were killed in the attack on Tuesday in the town of Tumbler Ridge, in foothills of the Rocky mountains. The victim's mother and step-brother were later found dead at the family home, police said. The body of the shooter was also found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Continue reading...

Review says trauma-informed support could help interrupt destructive cycles' and reduce risk of harm to future babiesParents whose children are taken into care should receive trauma-informed support to reduce the risk of harm to any further babies they have, according to child protection experts.A national child safeguarding review, launched after the death of baby Victoria Marten, said that if destructive cycles of harm are to be interrupted" there needed to be more focus on parents, as well as their vulnerable baby or unborn infant. Continue reading...

Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones were travelling in Laos in late 2024 when they were fatally poisoned with methanol at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang ViengAustralia will send a special envoy to Laos as it investigates the methanol poisoning deaths of two teenagers.The foreign minister Penny Wong announced the appointment on Thursday after the department of foreign affairs and trade apologised earlier this week for not providing more information to the victims' families. Continue reading...

Mark Kelly speaks out after grand jury declines to indict six lawmakers over video urging troops to resist illegal ordersArizona senator Mark Kelly warned that the Trump administration's failed attempt to secure an indictment against him and five other Democratic lawmakers for a video urging service members to resist unlawful orders was a master alarm flashing for our democracy".On Tuesday, a grand jury in Washington DC declined to indict the six members of Congress who posted a video last year reminding members of the military and intelligence community that they can refuse illegal orders" - a message that Donald Trump said amounted to SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!"Dani Anguiano contributed to this story Continue reading...

Attack at Kingsbury high school not being treated as terrorism after arrest of 13-year-old spotted near a mosqueA 13-year-old suspected of stabbing two boys at a secondary school is a former pupil who was arrested after being seen at a mosque after the attack, which has not been declared a terrorist incident, police said.Two pupils at Kingsbury high school in Brent, north-west London, were seriously injured at lunchtime on Tuesday. Both remain in a stable" condition in hospital with injuries now thought not to be life-threatening. Continue reading...

Multiple studies show that women who take Depo-Provera have much higher risk of developing meningiomasUK law firms are considering legal action on behalf of women who developed brain tumours after using the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera.Depo-Provera is a high-dose synthetic progesterone, prescribed for contraception and other menstrual symptoms, administered via injection every three months. According to UN calculations, 74 million women worldwide and 3.1% of UK women aged 15-49 use injectable contraception. Continue reading...

Former Mail editor was barely audible on witness stand while claimants' barrister raced against judge's deadlinePaul Dacre was no shrinking violet" in the 27 years he edited the Daily Mail, he said in his witness statement to the high court in London this week. He had captained a tough ship" in order to safeguard the patina' and prestige that differentiated the Daily Mail from other titles, both the popular ones and the so-called quality newspapers".Others have described the editor's tenure, and the impact it had on the UK, differently. Widely regarded as the most powerful print journalist in Britain" (Politico) until he stood down in 2021, to his critics Dacre was the man who hated liberal Britain" (New Statesman), and even the country's most dangerous man" (Observer). Continue reading...

Harriet Harman leads calls for an appointment that would turbocharge' a complete culture change' at No 10Female Labour MPs have demanded that Keir Starmer appoint a senior woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a complete culture change" in Downing Street after a series of scandals that they say have exposed a No 10 boy's club".Harriet Harman, one of the party's most senior figures, urged Starmer to revive the role of first secretary of state on Wednesday, a post occupied by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown. Continue reading...

Transcription tools used by councils in England and Scotland reported to hallucinate and produce gibberish'AI tools are making potentially harmful errors in social work records, from bogus warnings of suicidal ideation to simple gibberish", frontline workers have said.Keir Starmer last year championed what he called incredible" time-saving social work transcription technology. But research across 17 English and Scottish councils shared with the Guardian has now found AI-generated hallucinations are slipping in. Continue reading...

Policy announced in autumn budget freezes threshold at which students start repaying university loansProtesters dressed as sharks and in Rachel Reeves face masks gathered outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday to express their anger over changes to their student loans and their ballooning debt.The demonstration by members of the National Union of Students (NUS) characterised the chancellor as a loan shark after changes to university loan repayments. Continue reading...

Scottish Labour leader agrees PM can support party's effort to win May's Holyrood election in abrupt about-face