Items bought by former chief executive included more than 23,000 from a luxury stationery brand and a 3,000 robotic lawnmowerBBC Scotland has more details of the Peter Murrell hearing this morning on its live blog. And, on its live blog, Sky News has pictures of some of the items purchased by Murrell with stolen SNP funds.Andy Burnham will not call an early election if he becomes prime minister after the Makerfield byelection, a spokesperson for the Greater Manchester mayor has said. Continue reading...
Israeli military says it intercepted missiles from Lebanon this morning while Netanyahu says his forces will continue operating in the south of the country
At least 18 killed, dozens injured and others trapped under collapsed buildings after attacks on five Ukrainian citiesVolodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Donald Trump to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine after a devastating Russian attack killed at least 18 people and injured dozens more.Russia launched 73 missiles and 656 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to the air force, including eight hypersonic Tsirkon missiles. The main targets were Kyiv, the central cities of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, and the eastern cities of Poltava and Kharkiv. Continue reading...
Social Democrat stays on for third consecutive term as PM and will outline key policies by the end of TuesdayDenmark's new government is preparing to formally present its political programme after Mette Frederiksen negotiated a third consecutive term as prime minister, this time at the head of a four-party, left-leaning minority coalition.Announced late on Monday, the agreement between Frederiksen's Social Democrats, the Social Liberals, the Green Left and the centrist Moderates ended two months of uncertainty after March elections in which 12 parties won seats in parliament. Continue reading...
Emily Thornberry criticises Israel's staggering' sense of impunity and rebukes Donald Trump for abandoning GazaThe UK government has let the Palestinian people down and failed to make it economically impossible for Israel to continue to act with impunity in the West Bank and Gaza, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Emily Thornberry, has said.She accused her own government of lacking ambition and wringing its hands on the Palestinian crisis, and she also chastised Donald Trump for declaring a ceasefire in Gaza and then walking away, leaving Gazans to live in rubble. Continue reading...
Kevin Minto's discovery near Ilminster, showing goddess Victoria, has been acquired with coin hoard for 78,000When Kevin Minto, a lorry driver, former soldier and keen metal detectorist, came upon something glinting in a Somerset field, he thought at first it was a coin - potentially quite interesting, probably not amazing.But the object turned out to be extraordinary: a gold Roman ring, unusually large and exquisitely crafted, set with a finely engraved gemstone depicting the goddess Victoria driving a two-horse chariot. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Its software is used from health services to militaries. But controversies and criticism of the $375bn company are leading some to ask if Palantir is too powerfulGood morning. The Peter Mandelson story keeps unfolding. Peter Walker explains here what is in the latest release of documents, and Henry Dyer takes a look at the key papers missing from the latest disclosures. But today we are covering another major story - Palantir.Few companies attract controversy more than Palantir. Since the pandemic, the US data analytics company has grown voraciously, using its AI-driven software to make sense of intractable datasets for customers around the world. For the NHS, it analyses patient records; for the US military, it's focused on targets in Iran. Palantir's products are widely used, with the business now worth $375bn.UK politics | Peter Mandelson was receiving sensitive security briefings about the Foreign Office's work, and was in discussions with the head of MI6, before he had completed the developed vetting process, documents reveal.Ukraine | Russian air raids on major Ukrainian centres including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv killed at least five people and wounded dozens by early morning on Tuesday, authorities said.Environment | More than a million jobs, higher wages, nearly half a trillion pounds in investment in the pipeline - the UK's green economy is powering ahead, according to research by the country's leading business organisation.US news | Donald Trump is reconsidering whether to keep pressing for a $1.8bn fund to compensate his allies, a person familiar with his thinking said, as the justice department paused the program to comply with a court order.UK news | Sir Alan Bates has said that the schemes set up to compensate post office operators over the Horizon IT scandal have been an utter disaster" and that the government should not be involved in running them. Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#7618W)
Younger graduates, with experience of the fee system, are more disillusioned than those who did not pay fees, according to the surveyThere was a time when going to university seemed a no-brainer. Better qualifications opened doors to better jobs with greater earning potential.But with the graduate premium shrinking, mounting anger about spiralling student debt and growing fears about AI eating into the graduate jobs market, it is not surprising that attitudes are shifting. Continue reading...
John McFall prepares for mission to Haven-1 space station after UK Space Agency signs deal with US startup VastA British Paralympian and surgeon could become the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit after the government signed a deal with a US company that is building a small commercial space station.John McFall, a member of the European Space Agency (Esa) astronaut reserve, was cleared for activities in orbit last year and could take part in a mission to the Haven-1 space station soon after its proposed launch in 2027. Continue reading...
by Adam Fulton, Lucy Campbell, Tom Ambrose, Hayden Ve on (#760E2)
This blog is now closed. See our full report: Trump says Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to stop all shooting'The exchange of strikes between the US and Iran reflects the fragility of the current ceasefire, which has seen repeated violations even as American and Iranian officials try to negotiate a deal to extend it.Iran has maintained its chokehold on the strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies as a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The US continues to enforce its own blockade on the strait, as it pressures Tehran to reach an agreement. Continue reading...
Lively's legal team are suing her It Ends with Us co-star for legal fees and damages, reigniting a years-long court battleAttorneys for US actor Blake Likely were back in front of a New York judge on Monday to demand legal fees and damages from It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni, after a settlement was reached last month in their years-long legal battle.The 38-year-old actor's legal team argued that the defamation lawsuit brought against her by Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, was a retaliatory move prohibited by California law. Continue reading...
Net zero industry accounts for more than a million jobs and benefits whole country, according to CBI EconomicsMore than a million jobs, higher wages, nearly half a trillion pounds in investment in the pipeline - the UK's green economy is powering ahead, according to research by the country's leading business organisation.The net zero economy, which is worth more than 100bn a year, benefits all of the UK, according to the CBI Economics analysis commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank, despite critics who want to abolish the UK's net zero targets. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#7615R)
Party could struggle to push ratings as strategy increasingly focuses on views held by minority of voters, research findsReform UK is becoming increasingly reliant on socially conservative views for political support, and therefore could struggle to push its poll ratings much higher, a large-scale research project led by the leading psephologist John Curtice has found.A study of Nigel Farage's party carried out as part of the British Social Attitudes report found that while Reform supporters were disproportionately more likely to be unhappy with politicians and public services, recent recruits had seemingly more robust attitudes in areas such as diversity and welfare. Continue reading...
Teachers associated with CNTE union were marching toward Zocalo for salary raises and reversal of pension lawsRiot police fired teargas at teachers who were marching toward Mexico City's historic Zocalo plaza, just days before the square is expected to host the 2026 World Cup Fan Fest". The incident is the second time police have clashed with teachers in the past week, and more conflict is likely as Mexico City prepares to hold the opening game of the Fifa World Cup on 11 June.This event will have to be suspended," Filiberto Frausto, a union leader, told AFP, which witnessed police firing teargas on 1 June. A cause like ours should be far above - it's far more important than a little bit of distraction and fun." Continue reading...
State sues maker of ChatGPT and CEO Sam Altman, alleging company allowed a dangerous product to reach millions'Florida filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and its CEO, Sam Altman, on Monday alleging that the company concealed serious safety risks with its chatbot. Florida is the first state in the US to sue the artificial intelligence company.The 83-page suit was brought by Florida's attorney general, James Uthmeier, and alleges that OpenAI aggressively marketed" ChatGPT to the public while ignoring safety warnings and possible dangers of the product. Continue reading...
London mayor says Soho Society's decision to challenge all new licensing applications is bad' for citySadiq Khan, the London mayor, has suggested he will overrule a residents' society that has vowed to challenge all new applications for pubs and restaurants in Soho.The Guardian revealed last week that the Soho Society, a residents' group established in 1972 aimed at preserving the character of Soho", voted for a new licensing mandate, meaning it will challenge all new applications for bars and restaurants in the area, including renewals of existing licences. Continue reading...
Documents also reveal internal Labour criticism of Keir Starmer in embarrassing detailPeter Mandelson was receiving sensitive security briefings about the Foreign Office's work, and was in discussions with the head of MI6, before he had completed the developed vetting process, newly released documents reveal.Declassified emails show the ambassador designate and Richard Moore, the former chief of MI6 - a role known as C" - had agreed to meet in early January 2025 before Mandelson went to Washington. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Mukund Krisha says he is proud' of his record at staff association after allegations of fraudThe former head of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) who was arrested on suspicion of corruption has told the Guardian he is confident he will be entirely exonerated" and is proud" of his record at the organisation.Mukund Krishna, who was the chief executive of the staff association, is facing claims of financial wrongdoing and had his contract terminated on Sunday. Continue reading...
Emails and WhatsApp messages reveal string of exchanges with ministers when he was president of Global CounselPeter Mandelson, as president of his then advisory firm Global Counsel, lobbied hard for ministers to attend his events and to meet his firm's staff in the months following Labour's general election win, newly released documents reveal.Emails and WhatsApp exchanges show how active the Labour peer was in the wake of the election to work his contacts within government to the potential advantage of both his company and his then campaign to be chancellor of Oxford University. Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#76108)
About 20 students report anonymous late-night phone calls from men who intimidated, demeaned and belittled' themThe University of Manchester has launched an investigation after about 20 female medical students complained of receiving anonymous phone calls in the middle of the night from male callers who intimidated and sexually harassed them.The calls have been going on for at least three years, according to Charlotte Buttercase, a final-year medical student and one of those targeted. Continue reading...
Dozens of former news staffers press David Ellison to commit to fair coverage in wake of major firings on the showSeveral dozen veterans of CBS News - including many former 60 Minutes employees - signed a letter to the Paramount Skydance CEO, David Ellison, on Monday, pressing him to commit to the show's editorial independence four days after network management fired several top staffers and correspondents.On Thursday, the CBS News editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, and president, Tom Cibrowski, ousted the show's executive producer, executive editor and two prominent correspondents, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Both Alfonsi and Vega released blistering statements alleging that the show's editorial independence had been compromised for political purposes. Continue reading...
Late physicist turned issue of when to stop searching for a better place to eat into mathematical problemWhen it comes to exploring a new city, it can be tricky to know when to stop searching for a different restaurant to try every night, or to visit the first place you love on repeat.Now researchers have found that the late physicist and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman devised a mathematical equation that can tackle the conundrum - at least when the range of options is known - and they believe the approach is similar to tactics people use intuitively. Continue reading...
by William Christou in Beirut, Lorenzo Tondo and Jona on (#760BW)
Declaration comes after Iran had pulled out of peace talks in protest at Israeli offensive in Lebanon Middle East crisis - live updatesDonald Trump has said Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to mutual de-escalation and to scale back fighting, seemingly averting an Israeli strike on Beirut and the potential collapse of ceasefire talks with Iran.The US president said in a social media post that he spoke to Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and representatives of Hezbollah and both agreed that all shooting will stop". Continue reading...
I Knew It, I Knew You is written with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff and marks a return to Swift's country rootsAfter days of speculation online, Taylor Swift has announced the release of a new original song for Toy Story 5.Titled I Knew It, I Knew You, the single will be released on 5 June, with CD singles available for preorder on Swift's website. Three variants will be available, each containing different versions of the song: a piano version, an acoustic version and the original. Continue reading...
Vickrum Digwa, 23, who fatally stabbed Henry Nowak, 18, to serve at least 20 years before being eligible for paroleA man with a weapon obsession" has been jailed for life for murdering a university student with a large Sikh dagger" that he claimed to be carrying for religious reasons.Vickrum Digwa, 23, who stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak five times, will serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole. Continue reading...
Peter Mandelson's unfiltered remarks to cabinet officials are made public in hundreds of pages of documents relating to his appointment as US ambassador
Experimental tablet produces encouraging results in patients with world's most common forms of disease I was getting ready to say goodbye': patient's hope after smart drug successA smart drug that stops cancer cells hiding" from treatment can shrink tumours by at least 30% in six of the world's most common forms of the disease, early trial results show.While immunotherapy treatments have improved survival rates for many patients, their effectiveness can stall or fail when tumour cells hide and then spread. Continue reading...
by Andrew Gregory Health editor in Chicago on (#760WV)
Pat Brogan preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle after trial of treatment designed to stop disease from hiding Smart drug that strips cancer cells of invisibility cloak' can shrink tumours by 30%, trial showsOne of the first patients to benefit from a pioneering smart drug that appears to melt away the invisibility cloak" that can shield cancer cells from treatment is Pat Brogan, from Cowdenbeath, Scotland.The 68-year-old, whose tumours have shrunk by almost a third, is preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle this month and holiday in Spain with his wife, Linda - milestones he once feared he would never reach. Continue reading...
Michaela Hall's family bring claim against Devon and Cornwall police and Probation ServiceThe family of Michaela Hall, who was murdered by her partner five years ago, has launched a legal challenge over failings by the police and probation service that could have prevented her death.Lee Kendall, a serial violent offender, is serving a 21-year minimum sentence for stabbing Hall through the eye at her home in Truro, Cornwall on 1 June 2021. An inquest and a police watchdog investigation into the handling of the murder revealed a string of errors by public agencies that contributed to her death. Continue reading...
Pelley reportedly rebuked ousting of show's executive producer, executive editor and two top correspondentsScott Pelley, a veteran 60 Minutes correspondent, called out CBS News management in a heated meeting on Monday morning, attacking the network's decision on Thursday to fire the show's executive producer, executive editor, and two fellow correspondents, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, as part of a broader overhaul of the show, sources tell the Guardian.During a meeting of the show's staff and Nick Bilton, its newly appointed executive producer, along with the CBS News managing editor Charles Forelle, Pelley took direct aim at Bari Weiss, the network's controversial editor-in-chief. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#760WZ)
About half of drivers will take action on Tuesday as RMT blames TfL's refusal to engage meaningfully'The strike on the London Underground will go ahead on Tuesday after a day of talks failed to avert industrial action.About half of London's tube drivers will take action, bringing widespread transport disruption to the capital. A second strike is planned for Thursday. Continue reading...
Instead of relying on tax-enhanced speculation, investors must now look at established properties based on actual profitability - leaving space for first home buyers
by Tiago Rogero South America correspondent on (#760T7)
Success of far-right presidential candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella, suggests some voters are fed up with politics'The far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and the leftwing senator Ivan Cepeda have just under three weeks to compete for the roughly 3.6m votes that did not go to either of them in the first round of Colombia's presidential election.That is no insignificant number, given that De la Espriella's lead over Cepeda amounted to little more than 670,000 votes - 43.7% to 40.9%. Continue reading...
People from Delaware to Montreal reported either hearing loud booms or seeing the fireball in the sky over weekendA meteor over Massachusetts during the weekend ultimately prompted reports of booms and sightings across New England into Canada.The American Meteor Society said that the meteor in question was about 3ft (1 meter) wide as it entered the atmosphere around the New Hampshire border with Massachusetts, north of Boston. Continue reading...
Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker, who have both been accused of propagating antisemitism, barred from visiting for eventThe UK is failing to protect freedom of speech, prominent activists have said, after the government banned two leftwing US political commentators from entering the country to attend speaking engagements.Cenk Uygur, the host of the Young Turks online political talkshow, and Hasan Piker, who runs his own hours-long stream each day, were both due to appear at SXSW London, while the former said he had also been due to speak at an event run by University of Oxford students. Continue reading...
Casting shifts to EU talent as paperwork delays and visa limits make hiring British crews less viableFrom blacklists for UK passport holders to being asked to work illegally while on holiday, the plethora of extra costs and red tape thrown up post-Brexit are restricting opportunities for British actors seeking work in the EU.Mainland Europe has always been a springboard for those in the creative industries, from gaining crucial first credits on a TV, film or theatre production to building a marketable resume and paying the bills while attempting to make it big in the UK or US. Continue reading...
Letting nature take over at a former dairy farm has resulted in a surge of species in just three yearsThree years of rewilding on a former dairy farm in east Somerset have seen recorded bird species soar from 67 to 94, butterfly species rise from 11 to 24 and small mammals grow in number.Heal Somerset, the first site acquired by the charity Heal Rewilding, has produced a state of nature report mirroring a national survey by environmental charities that has tracked the decline in nature. Continue reading...
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