World news | The Guardian

Eleven Australians were among pro-Palestine activists detained by Israel from the Global Sumud flotilla. Follow today's news liveGuzman y Gomez, the Mexican-themed fast food chain, is pulling out of the United States in a spectacular turnaround on its American market ambitions, AAP reports.The decision was made because the financial performance of the US business was not acceptable or meeting targets. Continue reading...

Federal minister Tanya Plibersek says the group will face same repercussions on arrival in Australia as previous returnees

Cancellation, which avoids embarrassment for Trump, is latest signal of diminishing congressional support for warHouse Republicans canceled a scheduled Thursday vote on a war powers resolution aimed at ending the US war with Iran, a measure that likely would have advanced had the vote been held.The cancellation, which avoided political embarrassment for Donald Trump, is the latest signal that congressional support for the US president's war is diminishing. Continue reading...

Khanna says blank check to Israel and Netanyahu when they committed genocide' one of the reasons his party lost; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls omission pretty unbelievable'

Several MPs tell Guardian Australia they are keen to see tweaks, and some are engaging directly with treasurer's office

Cancer Research UK figures show number diagnosed with most serious form of skin cancer has risen above 20,000 for first timeThe number of cases from the most serious form of skin cancer have reached a record high across the UK, according to analysis by a leading cancer charity.Melanoma cases in the UK have risen above 20,000 for the first time ever, with 20,980 people being diagnosed with the form of cancer in 2022, according to analysis of the latest figures by Cancer Research UK. Continue reading...

Political editor Pippa Crerar and features writer Simon Hattenstone top major categories and Malak A Tantesh wins for Gaza reportingThe Guardian's political editor, a prominent features writer and a brave young Palestinian reporter are among those to have been honoured at the Press Awards in London.The awards celebrate the best journalism across all news media publishers distributing in the UK. Continue reading...

Nascar says it is heartbroken' to share news of Busch's death after he was hospitalized with a severe illnessTwo-time Nascar Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has died at 41 after being hospitalized with a severe illness, Nascar said in a Thursday statement.We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport's greatest and fiercest drivers. He was 41 years old," the racing organization wrote on social media. We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community." Continue reading...

Conservationists say population rebound demands rethink of retention zones that allow thousands of the animals to remain in the park

The Oscar-winning actor's role in the mythical drama has been attacked by Elon Musk and others on the far rightOscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong'o has responded to far-right criticism of her role in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey.In the big-budget film, out in July, the star plays Helen of Troy alongside cast members including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya. Continue reading...

Prime minister says he will boycott opening, as protesters hold signs saying stop USA' and shout go home'Hundreds of people protested against the opening of a new US consulate in Nuuk after comments by the US special envoy to Greenland that it was time for Washington to put its footprint back" on the Arctic territory.Many Greenlandic politicians, including the prime minister, said they would not attend the official opening on Thursday. Continue reading...

Policy adviser Jen Reed says tech-facilitated abuse has become increasingly prevalent' and calls for its inclusion in Domestic Abuse ActThe Domestic Abuse Act fails to fully recognise the danger of technology-facilitated abuse, such as location tracking or hidden stalkerware, a Lords select committee has heard.Tech abuse has become increasingly prevalent" and very commonplace now within a domestic abuse context", said Jen Reed, the head of policy at University College London's Gender and Tech Research Lab, during an evidence session. Continue reading...

Boys physically overpowered and then filmed attacks on teenage victims in separate incidents in HampshireThree teenage boys convicted of knife-point rape and other serious sexual offences against two teenage girls in Hampshire have not been given custodial sentences because the judge said he should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily".The boys, who were aged between 13 and 14 at the time of their offences, physically overpowered and sexually assaulted the girls, who were aged 14 and 15, in separate incidents two months apart. Continue reading...

Updated code of practice covering England, Wales and Scotland also relates to changing rooms and follows supreme court ruling

Music is banned on Wednesdays on island of Stromboli where Rolling Stones frontman was celebrating wrapping a filmPolice on an Italian island stopped a party attended by Mick Jagger - because music is banned on Wednesdays.The Rolling Stones frontman was on Stromboli, the volcanic island among Sicily's Aeolian archipelago, for the production of Three Incestuous Sisters, a film by the Italian director Alice Rohrwacher in which he stars. Continue reading...

Senior staff will get 2.5% pay rise with bonuses for highest performers in plan to rewire' civil serviceSenior civil servants will get bonuses for exceptional performance for the first time under a new system that Darren Jones, the Cabinet Office minister, said would reward the doers, not the talkers".Jones, who is also chief secretary to the prime minister, said most civil servants would get a 3.5% pay rise, but senior staff would have a base increase of 2.5%, with 1% held back for bonuses for the highest performing officials. Continue reading...

The UK's largest police force says Palantir is the only company that can supply what it needs. Is that worth the increasing controversy that comes with them?

Burnham and Streeting's latest stances confound caricatures of left and right as party faces electoral bindThe Labour party has seemed to inhabit three parallel worlds over the past fortnight.There is a prime minister celebrating good news on the economy and lower migration figures and breezily insisting he will fight the next election, but with his party intent on deposing him. Continue reading...

Nato chief delivers speech in Sweden as he hints at further changes to US military commitments to EuropeJust as Pavel was speaking in Prague, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was pursuing escalation of the conflict between the two countries.It's quite a claim given (checks notes) Russia's continued and relentless invasion of Ukraine for years.Ukraine has demonstrated not only determination and heroism, but also unbelievable capacity to adjust, to innovate, to change.It is something that we in Europe have lost through many regulatory measures that are necessary in peacetime, but of course in conflict you have to be ... flexible and achieve the results in shortest possible time. ... Continue reading...

Surging demand, low reserves and reduced Middle East exports predicted to cause global crunch by AugustOil markets will enter red zone" by July and August as stocks dwindle before the summer travel season amid a shortage of fresh oil exports from the Middle East, the executive director of the International Energy Authority warned on Thursday.Fatih Birol added that the most important solution to the Iran war energy shock was a full and unconditional reopening of the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...

Singer Skye Newman also highlights how becoming a performer is becoming inaccessible to those without moneyThe music industry risks becoming a more hostile place for working-class artists, musicians including Tinie Tempah and Skye Newman have said.Without work to save small music venues that act as cradles to nascent music scenes - as well as specific efforts to find and promote talent from diverse backgrounds - the industry is likely to miss out on the next big thing, they argued. Continue reading...

Michael Thomson admitted to breaching a restraining order by selling a range of luxury itemsThe former boss of collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance (LC&F) has been imprisoned for six months for contempt of court, after admitting breaching a restraining order by selling luxury items including horse saddles and a hot tub.Michael Thomson's actions were characterised by Judge Milne as an attack on the administration of justice. Thomson was sentenced alongside his wife, Debbie, who also admitted to the offences but whose six-month sentence was suspended for a period of two years. Continue reading...

Prime minister tells reporters reporters he would campaign personally in the contestThe Home Office has also published asylum figures this morning. These show that the number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in hotels stood at 20,885 at the end of March 2026, down 35% year-on-year from 32,326. The Press Association says:It is the lowest figure since data was first reported in 2022, Home Office figures show.The total had climbed as high as 56,018 at the end of September 2023.Brits are leaving on a massive scale and non-EU immigration remains far too high. Mass immigration undermines our society and low wage immigration is bad for the economy. British families feel it in lower wages, longer waiting lists for public services and housing shortages.Labour must go further and reform indefinite leave to remain before their hard-left flank forces them to abandon it altogether. Continue reading...

The monarch may have thought the role would keep her favourite' second son out of trouble. How wrong she wasThat Queen Elizabeth II was very keen" for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests" as a trade envoy in 2001 demonstrates the fierce support the late monarch always gave her second son.Knowing he was the spare", and undoubtedly acutely aware of the pitfalls of that position - her sister, Princess Margaret, had struggled to find her own role - a mother's instinct would be to protect, so far as she could. Continue reading...

Satirical project is viral sensation and outlet for protest on social media as it taps into young people's frustrationIt began as a satirical online project after a high court judge compared unemployed young people to cockroaches. Now millions of young Indians are flocking to it as an outlet for their frustration.A parody political party with the insect as its symbol has exploded across India's social media by turning absurdist humour into protest. Memes and short videos mocking corruption, joblessness and political dysfunction have flooded social media sites, where millions of users are embracing the cockroach - an insect known for its ability to survive harsh conditions - as a tongue-in-cheek symbol of endurance. Continue reading...

Nottingham university hospitals trust says 11 members of staff dismissed and 14 others given written warningsAn NHS trust has sacked 11 staff members who illegally accessed the medical records of the victims of the Nottingham stabbing attacks.Valdo Calocane killed two 19-year-old students, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, a 65-year-old caretaker, and attempted to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. Continue reading...

Experts say hate-motivated extremists being radicalized online and adopting ideologies of shooters before themThe killing of three men at a San Diego mosque on Monday is the latest example of a disturbing trend in recent decades: hate-motivated shooters learning from - and copying - each other in acts of violence meant to push the nation toward a race war and, ultimately, societal collapse.The two San Diego shooters, who were 17 and 18, killed 51-year-old Amin Abdullah, a security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego, 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha, a mosque elder and founding member of the center, and Nadir Awad, 57, who lived across the street and whose wife worked as a teacher at the center's school. Continue reading...

When pupils could no longer play outside, St John's school in Barnet decided to act, enlisting Trees for Cities to help rethink its outside spaceThe play area at St John's Church of England primary in Barnet, north London, used to flood so severely it was often unusable. It would get so bad that the children couldn't be dismissed from the playground," says Macci Dobie, the school's headteacher. We had to dismiss them from different parts of the school or, literally, parents were stepping into puddles to lift their children out of the classroom."Because the school sits in a basin with clay foundations, rain would pool on the grey tarmac and just sit there, often denying the children a proper break for play outside. Continue reading...

Verdict is latest legal milestone over France's worst ever air disasterA Paris appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash that killed 228 passengers and crew in France's worst air disaster.The verdict is the latest milestone in a legal marathon involving two of France's most emblematic companies and families of the mainly French, Brazilian and German victims. Continue reading...

Study, published as latest migration figures are released, shows incorrect perceptions driving immigration debatePeople mistakenly believe net migration is rising in Britain despite figures dropping to their lowest level in years, a leading thinktank has found.New research from British Future, published ahead of latest government figures on migration, has revealed a chasm between reality and public perception of net migration, with a substantial portion of the public believing it has increased, despite figures showing a sharp fall. Continue reading...

Chancellor says she will raise tax on global oil giants to help meet costs of plans and confirms freeze on fuel duty increases

Weirs, culverts and sluices among 602 barriers demolished in year in attempt to restore 15,500 miles of rivers by 2030A few miles downstream from a lava field in western Iceland, the gargle of free-flowing water is unbroken for the first time in decades after hydraulic peckers chipped away at a dilapidated dam that once powered a farm. The structure on the River Melsa had continued to block fish migration long after falling into disrepair.It wasn't providing any electricity; the old power house had sheep living in it," said Hamish Moir, a river engineer from CBEC, a Scottish firm that provided technical support for the demolition in December. To see the river restored to its natural state was really rewarding", he said. Continue reading...

Critics of Royal Horticultural Society turn hose on corporate sponsorship, peat-free compost and general wokery'There was King Charles and David Beckham as well as a nocturnal garden to support bats and a Viking-themed allotment full of edible plants in pots. The Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea flower show, which ends on Saturday, was as lovely and celebrity-glittered as ever, most agreed.But dig a little deeper, say critics on the conservative wing of the RHS - including one spectacularly outspoken former contributor - and not everything is necessarily smelling of roses. Continue reading...

Climbers take advantage of clear weather after threat of ice fall on normal route delayed start of spring seasonA record 274 climbers have reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepalese side in a single day after a spring season that started late because of the threat of ice fall on the normal tourist route.The climbers took advantage of the clear weather on Wednesday, said Rishi Ram Bhandari, of the Expedition Operators Association Nepal. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Scotland Yard had been in talks to use Palantir's AI technology to automate intelligence analysisA 50m Met police deal with the controversial US tech company Palantir has been blocked by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, with City Hall citing a clear and serious breach" of procurement rules.Scotland Yard had been in talks, revealed by the Guardian last month, to use Palantir's AI technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations. But Khan intervened on Thursday to stop the flagship contract, which would have been Palantir's largest yet in British policing. Continue reading...

One Nation proposal would abolish offshore gas profits tax and acquire 30% equity in new projects in a move the Coalition says is borrowed from Venezuela'

Scientists developing vaccines and anti-tick treatments amid growing concern over spread of diseaseCases of Lyme disease have risen more than 20% in England in the past year, public health experts have revealed, as pharmaceutical companies work to create new vaccines and drugs to tackle the tick-borne illness.According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), published as part of its One Health vector-borne disease surveillance report, there were 1,168 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2025, up from 959 in 2024 - an increase of 22%. However, the figure is similar to that recorded in 2023, when there were 1,151 confirmed cases. Continue reading...

Chris Kennedy chosen amid reports Greens do not want to be blamed for splitting progressive vote and allowing Reform to win

MP says current system is unfair and his idea would result in a wealth tax that works'

Chancellor wins support from Conservative Mel Stride, while Nigel Farage says he would like to buy man a pint'

Budget airline, which took 25m hit on jet fuel in March, says passengers are waiting later to book trips

Ban social media and reform education to tackle scandal of young people not in work or study, says Peter HymanSchools have become a pipeline" to worklessness for a large cohort of young people in the UK, according to an influential former Labour adviser who has called for urgent action to help a lost generation".Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, told the Guardian the government should ban social media and enact radical education reform to tackle the national scandal" of young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet). Continue reading...

Gerry the monk' Hutch has won fans in north Dublin byelection campaign with anti-immigrant rhetoricElaine Roe, 61, a cafe worker, has no doubt what is the most important issue in this week's byelection for Dublin's north inner city. The government is wrecking our country, they're bringing in rapists and murderers and kidnappers. It's a shame. I might vote Hutch, he seems a normal person."That would be Gerry the monk" Hutch, a prominent gangland figure who is running as an independent in an election that is far from normal. The 63-year-old - who was jailed for robbery convictions in his youth - is a celebrity candidate in a contest for a parliamentary seat that has been dominated by xenophobia and immigration. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Behind the packed stadiums and record revenues lies a growing tension of a sport thriving financially while the supporters who built it are increasingly left behindGood morning. The men's football season is reaching the sharp end. This week, Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions and last night Aston Villa won the Uefa Europa League. The men's Fifa World Cup is just around the corner.But fans in England are also at the sharp end: rising prices inside and outside grounds, kick-off times being altered on the whim of TV channels, and a creeping sense that some clubs are desperate to replace the legacy fan" with a premium-paying high-yield customer".UK politics | Andy Burnham is backing Shabana Mahmood's controversial changes to the immigration system, his allies have said, in a blow to those in Labour who hope to soften them.AI | The Electoral Commission has called for new legal controls over misinformation from AI chatbots, after a thinktank found they had made serious mistakes during the recent Scottish election.Ebola | Doses of a potential vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus that is causing an Ebola outbreak in central Africa will not be available for six to nine months, the World Health Organization said.Middle East | Israel's far-right national security minister has sparked a diplomatic crisis by publishing footage of Israeli security forces abusing international activists who were detained as they tried to sail to Gaza with aid.UK news | Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told.In the weeks leading up to the World Cup, soccer writer Jonathan Wilson will explain how the tournament became a global phenomenon with cultural, social and political weight that extends far beyond each game. Sign up for the newsletter here. Continue reading...

Without urgent intervention England faces water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, peers tell governmentRainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told.Without intervention, England will face severe water shortages in the coming decades, as climate change-induced weather patterns, population growth and the expansion of industries such as water-intensive datacentres put excessive demand on supplies and endanger life, according to a House of Lords report published on Thursday.Changes to building regulations to require new homes to achieve a maximum water usage of 105 litres a person a day and accelerated grey water reuse.Nature-based solutions such as restoring peat bogs and reconnecting rivers to their natural flood plains to enhance water retention.An urgent awareness campaign for the whole of society to reduce water usage.A full environmental and economic assessment of drought to weigh the cost of inaction against the value of resilience.The rolling out of nature-based solutions more widely in urban and rural settings. Continue reading...

Guide retires award for eco-friendly practices - and says restaurants will no longer be able to advertise they have itWith rare bluefin tuna and red meat often on their menus, Michelin-starred restaurants have not always prioritised sustainability.In an effort to consider the climate crisis, in 2020 Michelin began awarding green stars to chefs who cooked eco-friendly ingredients and reduced waste. But now the body has abruptly retired the prize and said chefs will no longer be able to advertise that they have it. Continue reading...

Initial testing found evidence of metals in water samples, months after province's residents began reporting unusual numbers of dead fish washing ashorePapua New Guinea's government has warned communities not to fish from parts of the New Ireland coastline as preliminary tests show evidence of metals in some water samples, after months of residents reporting dead marine life in the area.On 7 May the fisheries minister, Jelta Wong, said initial testing conducted by an independent company detected various metals in water samples taken from affected areas around Kafkaf village and Larairu lagoon in New Ireland, an island in eastern PNG. Continue reading...

Far-right figure Itamar Ben-Gvir shares footage of himself taunting bound international detainees

Charges filed in Miami against 94-year-old for allegedly shooting down exiles' planes in 1996The United States issued a federal criminal indictment against Raul Castro, Cuba's former president, and five others on Wednesday in a significant escalation of the Trump administration's campaign to oust the country's six-decades-old communist regime.The 94-year-old political figurehead was charged in Miami, Florida, with conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft. Continue reading...

Chancellor launches Great British summer savings scheme' after Keir Starmer postpones fuel duty increase