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This live blog is now closedThe interior minister of Spain told Reuters on Saturday that Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands have confirmed they will send planes to repatriate nationals from their respective countries aboard the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak.The European Union is sending two more planes for the remaining European citizens, and the US and UK have also confirmed planes and contingency plans for non-EU citizens.A total of 8 cases, including 3 deaths, have been reported as of Friday. Six of these cases cases are confirmed as Andes virus and four patients are currently hospitalised.One case previously reported as suspected hantavirus has now been reclassified as a non-case after testing negative for Andes (ANDV) virus.A man who disembarked in Tristan da Cunha on 14 April is currently stable and in isolation. He is currently a probable case until laboratory confirmation.Passengers who travelled on the same flight from St Helena to South Africa along with one of the confirmed cases have been contacted - 75 of those contacts have been identified in South Africa, of whom 42 have been traced by national authorities and are currently under monitoring. Continue reading...

Denmark's king asks Troels Lund Poulsen to form government after PM struggles to gather supportThe king of Denmark has asked a centre-right politician to try to form a new government after the prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has failed to put together a ruling coalition.The announcement on Friday night shook the political establishment as Frederiksen has been a staple of Danish politics for decades. Her left-leaning party, the Social Democrats, won the plurality of votes in parliamentary elections in March. Continue reading...

Simply hanging on could be a disaster for Iranians, while Trump needs to resolve this economic crisis he createdExchanges of fire between Iran and the US demonstrate the serious instability of the situation in the Middle East. Though the US strikes late on Thursday were just a love tap", according to the US president, Donald Trump, the reality is that neither side can continue the high-stakes standoff in the strait of Hormuz indefinitely.The US and its ally Israel demonstrated a comprehensive military superiority over Iran - taking minimal casualties in the 38-day war - but Washington has both failed to translate that into strategic dominance and allowed Iran to take control of the strait, driving up the oil price. Continue reading...

New York's Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brushed off question about run for presidencyThe New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez answered a question about potentially running for higher office in 2028 by declaring: My ambition is to change the country."The Democrat delivered that remark at a political forum in Chicago on Friday amid widespread belief that she is positioning herself to run for the White House in 2028 or challenge her party's leader in the US Senate, fellow New Yorker Chuck Schumer. Continue reading...

Moscow blanketed in heavy security despite last-minute announcement of three-day ceasefire with Ukraine

Woman recovered after volcanic eruption on remote island, while operation to find two missing Singaporeans goes onRescuers have recovered the body of an Indonesian woman who was caught in a volcanic eruption on Mount Dukono on Indonesia's remote island of Halmahera, officials have said.Search operations continued on Saturday for the bodies of two Singaporeans. The dead hikers were among 20 who set out to scale the 1,355-metre (4,445ft) volcano in defiance of safety restrictions and became stranded when Dukono erupted early on Friday, spewing a thick ash column about 6 miles (10km) into the air. Continue reading...

Florida agreement grants US president control of licensing and merchandising at renamed airport, analysts sayIt was a week in which one prominent name in aviation, Spirit Airlines, disappeared, killed in the company's own admission by high fuel prices resulting from Donald Trump's war in Iran.Within days, however, another moniker was already flying high in industry circles: the president's own. Continue reading...

Mohamed Bulbul arrested in Mogadishu after covering case of woman allegedly being tortured in prisonA journalist who covered the case of a woman who said she was being tortured in prison was detained and beaten with pistols by Somali authorities, along with two others, for his reporting for the Guardian.Mohamed Bulbul was arrested with the journalists Abdihafid Nor Barre and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud on Friday evening while in a restaurant in the centre of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. They said they were assaulted by members of Somalia's US-trained counter-terrorism police unit and taken to be questioned by police. All three were released in the early hours of Saturday morning. Continue reading...

David Farley wins One Nation's first lower house seat after Coalition vote collapses and Angus Taylor says Liberals will take hard lessons' from result

Organizers, including Selma foot soliders, say ruling is latest chapter in long battle over Black disenfranchisement in USThe supreme court's recent decision to gut the Voting Rights Act is an affront to everyone who marched, bled and died to make that law possible, civil rights activists said.When we look at the supreme court's action against the Voting Rights Act, it's really a kneecap - a way to discriminate, to silence voters who fought so hard for this right," said Sheyann Webb-Christburg, who, at eight years old, marched with civil rights leaders in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. Continue reading...

PM's wife, accompanying him to the polls, follows a long line of women to mobilise the jacket when stakes are highNot a white flag but a cream blazer was what Victoria Starmer chose to wear to accompany her husband, the prime minister, to vote on Thursday morning. She follows in a long line of women who have mobilised the power blazer at high-stakes moments.Starmer's, which looks much like a 1,690 ivory Alexander McQueen crepe design, comes hot on the lapels of another. In episode one of the new series of Amandaland, Amanda wears a beige double-breasted iteration in a high-stakes fictional moment: to give a toe-curling talk about her (not shallow) lifestyle brand Senuous as part of careers week at her kid's school. Earlier in the week, the Princess of Wales launched the Foundations for Life report wearing a creamy beige high-waisted Roland Mouret suit. Continue reading...

Diplomatic efforts continue despite fighting in and around contested strait of Hormuz in recent days

Labour party loses more than 1,400 English council seats and crashes out in Welsh and Scottish parliament votes UK politics live - latest updatesKeir Starmer, the British prime minister, is facing increasing pressure to set a date for his departure after elections across much of the country resulted in massive losses for his ruling Labour party.With the bulk of results now counted after voting on Thursday, Labour had lost more than 1,400 representatives from English councils, the local government structures that deliver many neighbourhood services. Continue reading...

Food and Drug Administration commissioner's decisions have hurt staff morale and put his job in crosshairsDonald Trump has signed off on a plan to fire Marty Makary, the commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, after a series of high-profile agency decisions put the FDA head in the crosshairs of the White House and Republican lawmakers.Makary's tenure at the FDA has been marked by several controversial decisions on drugs and vaccines amid plummeting staff morale over layoffs and the appointments of divisive officials. Recent political clashes include abortion, drugs and vaping, but decisions to pull back publications on the safety of shingles and Covid vaccines, among other immunization decisions, have also rocked public health. There have also been concerns about the transition from two clinical trials to one, the commissioner's new priority review vouchers and data-free" regulatory decisions. Continue reading...

Judges have been fired or taken buyouts, and those remaining say they toe the government lineDavid Koelsch, a former immigration judge based in Maryland, was in Minneapolis visiting his mother and sister the day Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents. He drove to Nicollet Avenue, parked a few blocks away, and walked toward the scene.I didn't go there to protest. I didn't bring a sign. I didn't bring anything. I just went to stand and bear witness," Koelsch said. Continue reading...

Charlotte Proudman's comments follow trial of Christopher Trybus, who was acquitted of all charges against wife Tarryn BairdA barrister has suggested that a dead woman was put on trial" in the case of Christopher Trybus, who was cleared of manslaughter by a jury.Charlotte Proudman's comments came after Trybus was found not guilty by a jury of eight women and four men, who deliberated for more than 40 hours. He was acquitted of all charges: manslaughter, coercive and controlling behaviour and two counts of rape. Continue reading...

Public frustration gave the SNP a muted victory, while Labour tied with Reform for second and the Greens claimed a seismic' resultLong before the final votes were counted in Scotland, veteran Labour politicians said it was a defeat made in Downing Street.When the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, strode into the Glasgow count arena on Friday afternoon flanked by sombre-faced activists, the scene was a mirror image to the same venue in 2024, when his resurgent party won 36 seats from the Scottish National party, playing a significant part in Keir Starmer's landslide victory. Continue reading...

Samuel Whitsed, 27, is believed to have travelled from Victoria to hike Bibbulmun Track near outskirts of Perth

Israeli PM says he has full coordination' with US president amid reports that Washington no longer consults himBenjamin Netanyahu interrupted an uncharacteristically long silence over the Iran conflict this week with a video commentary insisting he had full coordination" with Donald Trump, with whom he spoke almost daily".The insistence that all was rosy in the US-Israeli relationship followed weeks of reports in the domestic press that Israel was no longer being consulted over the Iran conflict, and even less over Pakistani-brokered peace talks. Such is the scepticism over Netanyahu's trustworthiness among the general public and independent press that the immediate reaction among observers to his video statement was speculation that the reality could be even worse than they had imagined. Continue reading...

Norway's energy minister says country has a responsibility' to address shortfalls caused by wars in Ukraine and Middle EastIn case of any doubt about Norway's commitment to maintain - and expand - its production of gas and oil offshore, the energy minister, Terje Aasland, has a pithy response: We will develop, not dismantle, activity on our continental shelf."This week, to the alarm of environmental campaigners, he announced that three gasfields off the country's southern coast would reopen by the end of 2028 - nearly three decades after they closed - to meet a shortfall caused by the impact of the war in Ukraine and disruption to supplies from the Middle East. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is preferred choice of new leader for 42% of those surveyed

Fears over a natural disaster or cyber attack are pushing households into contingency planning, Link survey showsMillions of Britons are prepping" for a potential major disruptive event" by keeping a stash of cash at home, stockpiling tinned goods or ensuring they have a battery-powered torch close to hand, new data suggests.With war raging in the Middle East and Ukraine, extreme weather becoming more frequent, and warnings that the UK's critical infrastructure is at risk from cyber-attacks and power outages, many people feel the world has become a more dangerous and chaotic place. Continue reading...

About 30 people - nearly all men - have expressed an interest in taking on the far-right National Rally in next year's ballotAt a Paris meeting hall this week, hundreds of leftwing voters braved a rainstorm to gather chanting: Unity! Unity!"They were celebrating the 90th anniversary of France's Popular Front, a leftwing alliance that was formed in the 1930s amid fears that the far right could take power. But their concerns were more immediate. Continue reading...

Unprecedented operation' under way to receive MV Hondius off Tenerife to assess and repatriate those onboard What is hantavirus?

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Analysis commissioned by independent senator found national science agency's funding is at its lowest since 1978

More than 190 people have been killed in such strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and PacificThe US military on Friday said it struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and leaving one survivor in the latest attack on boats suspected of transporting narcotics. This brings the death toll from strikes on such vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific to more than 190 people since September.A video posted by the US Southern Command shows the vessel traveling through the water being hit by what appears to be a missile. The screen momentarily goes black and then shows the boat engulfed in flames. Continue reading...

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Both sides also confirm prisoner swap which Donald Trump announced along with suspension of all kinetic activity' between the warring statesDonald Trump has announced a three-day ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine from 9 to 11 May.The US president said on social media the ceasefire would include a suspension of all kinetic activity" and a swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country. It was confirmed by both sides. Continue reading...

Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, concedes his party was comprehensively beaten in election as count puts his party on 17 seats, a tie with Reform

Automaker had given numerous statements reassuring drivers that it would not do so', says California attorney generalGeneral Motors (GM) agreed to pay $12.75m to resolve claims that it illegally sold hundreds of thousands of Californians' location and driving data to two data brokers, said the state's attorney general, Rob Bonta, on Friday. He said this came after the Detroit-based automaker had given numerous statements reassuring drivers that it would not do so".General Motors sold the data of California drivers without their knowledge or consent," Bonta said in a statement. This trove of information included precise and personal location data that could identify the everyday habits and movements of Californians." Continue reading...

After January order from US department of the interior, managers across 55 sites have lifted prohibitionsDonald Trump's administration is quietly pushing national park, refuge and wilderness area managers to dramatically scale back hunting restrictions, raising questions about visitor safety and the impact on wildlife.Doug Burgum, the US Department of the Interior secretary, issued an order in January directing multiple agencies to remove what he termed unnecessary regulatory or administrative barriers" to hunting and fishing, to and justify regulations they want to keep in place. Continue reading...

Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat with party pushed into third place behind Plaid Cymru and ReformThis liveblog is now closed. Read the Guardian's report on the elections here and find all our election coverage here.

Party has success in Labour and Tory heartland areas but one pollster says results suggest Reform may have peaked

Senior Labour MPs urge prime minister to step down within year as party loses control of 25 English councils and humbled in Wales

Reform, Greens and pro-Gaza independents make significant gains, although no party has yet won majority

Whimsical film shows relay of animals carrying centennial card from Balmoral Castle to naturalist in LondonKing Charles has featured in a surprise birthday tribute to David Attenborough, with a cast of wild animals helping to relay his handwritten congratulatory centenary card.The whimsical film, A Very Special Delivery, begins with the king writing his tribute in the library of Balmoral Castle. Charles, wearing an animal-themed tie featuring elephants, reflects on more than 60 years of friendship with the renowned naturalist. Continue reading...

The Cohutta town council will discuss reinstating the police and consider request for mayor's immediate resignation'The town council in a small mountain community in the US state of Georgia called a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all the officers.The notice for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta town hall, says the council will also consider a request for the mayor's immediate resignation". Continue reading...

Parents will receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving hospital under new program aimed at alleviating expensesCalifornia families welcoming newborns will soon receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving the hospital under a first-in-the-country program announced on Friday by the state's governor, Gavin Newsom.During the program's first year, it will be offered at about 65 to 75 hospitals that handle about a quarter of births in the state and largely serve low-income patients, Newsom's office said. The initiative will expand to more hospitals statewide, though the governor's office did not say how many. The state has partnered with the non-profit Baby2Baby to manufacture the diapers under the label Golden State Start". Continue reading...

Among the releases is a 1969 debrief of Buzz Aldrin stating he saw a sizeable' object close to the lunar surfaceThe Pentagon on Friday released an initial group of previously secret files documenting reports of UFOs - a move sought for decades by some.These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation - and it's time the American people see it for themselves," Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, said in a statement posted on X. Continue reading...

Reform makes gains in Labour's working-class heartlands, while Greens chip away at party's progressive baseKeir Starmer hates to lose. Unsurprisingly, he refused to walk away and end his premiership as Labour's local election losses began to trickle in on Friday morning. Upon entering Downing Street in July 2024 after leading Labour to a historic general election victory, Starmer promised the public that his government would fight every day until you believe again".Now, Starmer is faced with the uncomfortable truth that the frustrated yet united coalition that brought him into No 10 hoping for change is completely fractured and its discontent cannot be dismissed as early midterm blues. Continue reading...

Welsh nationalist party able to form minority government in Wales, blocking momentum of Reform UK

Nationwide Canvas outage left students and faculty dead in the water' and rushing to rearrange end of academic yearA system that thousands of schools and universities in the US use was offline on Thursday during a cyberattack, creating chaos as students tried to study for finals and underscoring education's dependence on technology.Students quickly took to social media to ask if others were unable to access Canvas, with many panicking that they could no longer view course materials housed within the platform to study for their final exams. Continue reading...

Network lawyers in a legal motion strongly pushed back against the FCC's investigation into The View talkshowLawyers representing an ABC station have accused the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of punishing the network for political purposes in a strongly worded attack on the Trump-controlled commission's investigation into top-rated talkshow, The View.In a legal motion filed on Thursday, KTRK-TV, a Houston-based local television station owned by ABC, pushed back strongly against the FCC investigation, accusing the purportedly independent agency of taking actions that threaten to upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech, both with respect to The View and more broadly". Continue reading...

US energy department says 13.5kg of uranium taken from reactor in Caracas - a fraction of the 408kg held by TehranDonald Trump has succeeded in removing a country's stash of highly enriched uranium - although that country is not Iran.On Friday, the US Department of Energy announced that thanks to President Trump's decisive leadership" 13.5 kilograms (about 30 pounds) of uranium had been removed from a legacy research reactor in Venezuela. Continue reading...

Whitaker Malem worked with pop art sculptor Allen Jones, visual artist Nadia Lee Cohen and a car bodyshop in KentAt Monday's Met Gala, it inevitably fell to Kim Kardashian to deliver the evening's biggest jolt. One of the few celebrities to straightforwardly interpret the fashion is art" dress code - which focused on how the dressed and undressed human body is the through-line in most works of art - she decided to forgo her usual role as a walking billboard for a major fashion house and instead arrived in an orange fibreglass breastplate created by a small east London art duo and a car bodyshop in Kent.Good art should start conversation, and Kim did exactly that," says 61-year-old Patrick Whitaker, half of the design practice Whitaker Malem, who made the breastplate just weeks before the gala. She was very clear on wanting a breastplate, very clear on the car body finish. And I think she was nervous really. She understands the competition." Continue reading...

Bond yields drop as market fears ease that Labour leader will be replaced by a more leftwing rival

US secretary of state has been meeting Italian leader amid strained tensions over IranThe European Commission also insisted that airlines must not charge customers extra fuel fees after they have already bought tickets, as the aviation sector feels the pain from high energy prices because of the Middle East war, AFP reported.Airlines may adapt their published fares to the situation, but adding a fuel surcharge to a ticket after it has been bought cannot be justified," EU spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told reporters in Brussels. Continue reading...

Roman Lavrynovych is one of three accused of arson attacks on a vehicle and two houses in London tied to the prime ministerA Ukrainian man has admitted setting fire to a car that once belonged to Keir Starmer for 3,000, after telling a court he had been being threatened by a powerful" Russian-speaking man using the pseudonym El Money.Roman Lavrynovych, 22, is accused, along with Stanislav Carpiuc and Petro Pochynok, of arson attacks on a vehicle and two houses in north London linked to the prime minister. Continue reading...

Party makes gains in Portsmouth and Richmond upon Thames in local elections but loses a Scottish stronghold