5 h. ago China’s ‘interference’ blamed on resignation of Solomon Islands minister from group critical of Beijing

China has been accused of interference in the Solomon Islands for allegedly forcing a minister to quit from a global alliance of parliamentarians critical of Beijing’s growing influence.

Politics

6 h. ago Australian prime minister names new Cabinet that drops Israel critic

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced his new Cabinet

Politics

5 d. ago SNP’s ‘flimsy’ programme for government offers ‘more of the same’, says Findlay

John Swinney’s plans were also criticised by Scottish Labour leader who asked the First Minister: ‘Is that it?’

Politics

6 d. ago Sturgeon warns trans lives could become ‘unliveable’ after Supreme Court ruling

The former first minister of Scotland also rejected calls for her to apologise to critics of gender self-ID.

Events

6 d. ago Eluned Morgan to set out ‘red Welsh way’ in speech criticising Starmer

Exclusive: First minister of Wales hoping to counter threats to Welsh Labour from Reform and Plaid CymruThe Welsh first minister will criticise Keir Starmer’s welfare reforms in a major speech on Tuesday, saying she will pursue a leftwing “red Welsh way” and put a clear dividing line between Welsh Labour and the national party.Eluned Morgan will distance herself from Starmer’s government in a speech on Tuesday billed by allies as a reset moment for Welsh Labour to counter the threats from Reform UK and Plaid Cymru. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Programme for Government: John Swinney accused of stealing Labour's vow to end GP 8am rush

The First Minister is facing criticism after appearing to parrot a policy pledge announced by Anas Sarwar 11 weeks ago to end an 8am rush for GP appointments.

Politics

7 d. ago ‘I think it’s rubbish’: VE Day pilot pleads with veterans’ minister to double defence spending

104-year-old Second World War pilot Colin Bell criticised the government's proposed defence spending target, telling veterans minister Alistair Carns, “I think it’s rubbish.”

Politics

8 d. ago Trump news at a glance: Rubio tangles with Germany; crackdown on campus protests continues

Berlin dismisses secretary of state’s criticism over AfD designation; nine pro-Palestinian activists arrested at Swarthmore College – key US politics stories from Saturday 3 May at a glanceGermany’s foreign ministry has pushed back after Marco Rubio criticised the country’s decision to designate the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party a “confirmed rightwing extremist” force incompatible with its constitution.“This is democracy,” the ministry said in a post on X, adding that the courts would have the final say and that “we have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped”. The US secretary of state had called the move “tyranny in disguise”. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Labour MP Florence Eshalomi laments 'lost year' for London housebuilding under new Government

Housing select committee chair claims Government’s lack of social homes target is because ministers do not want to give critics a ‘stick to beat them with’

Politics

1 week ago Labour's biggest union backer issues tough message on Ed Miliband's Net Zero drive

The attack from Unite came after former prime minister Sir Tony Blair voiced criticism over Labour’s ‘irrational’ climate policies

Politics

1 week ago Labour's biggest union backer issues tough message on Ed Milliband's Net Zero drive

The scathing attack from Unite came after former prime minister Sir Tony Blair voiced criticism over Labour’s ‘irrational’ climate policies

Politics

1 week ago Don’t throw workers ‘on the scrapheap’ in pursuit of net zero, union chief says

Sharon Graham’s comments came after former prime minister Sir Tony Blair criticised efforts to limit fossil fuels.

Politics

1 week ago Cabinet minister admits Tony Blair’s net zero criticisms are ‘valid and important’

But environment secretary Steve Reed doubles down on the Labour push to move off fossil fuel energy for renewable alternatives

Politics

2 w. ago Peter Dutton criticised as ‘illiberal’ for calling ABC and the Guardian ‘hate media’

Critics compare Coalition leader to Donald Trump while Labor communications minister suggests Dutton is ‘afraid of scrutiny’Polls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverageAnywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guideListen to the latest episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaAcademics and former journalists say Peter Dutton’s comments labelling the ABC and Guardian Australia “hate media” are “reminiscent of Donald Trump” and could backfire as the election campaign heads into its final week.The opposition leader addressed the party faithful at a rally in the Labor-held seat of Hawke on Melbourne’s outskirts on Sunday before the 3 May poll.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Spain scraps €6.6m arms order from Israeli company after outcry

Coalition allies of Pedro Sánchez said the purchase of millions of bullets jeopardised country’s efforts to hold Israel to account over war in GazaSpain has scrapped a €6.6m (£5.7m) order for millions of bullets from an Israeli company after the junior partners in its coalition government denounced it as a “flagrant breach” of the alliance agreement that jeopardised the country’s sustained efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza.The country’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s conduct during the war in Gaza, questioning whether it is following international humanitarian law and calling the number of Palestinian deaths “truly unbearable”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Spanish deputy PM’s party calls for cancellation of Israeli arms order

Leftwing party says €6.6m order for bullets from Israeli firm breaches coalition government agreementsThe leftwing junior partners in Spain’s socialist-led coalition government have called on the interior ministry to cancel a €6.6m (£5.7m) order for millions of bullets from an Israeli company, claiming the deal breaches coalition agreements and undermines efforts to hold Israel to account over its actions in Gaza.Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza, questioning whether it is following international humanitarian law and calling the number of Palestinian deaths “truly unbearable”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago British Steel crisis spurs greater scrutiny of Chinese investment in UK

Ministers urged to review Beijing’s role in critical national infrastructure and supply chains

Events

3 w. ago Protests in Hungary over government’s plan for constitutional amendment – Europe live

Rights campaigners say amendment, which will ban LGBTQ+ gatherings, is ‘significant escalation’ in efforts to chip away at human rightsThe Russian defence ministry also responded to the criticism for its attack on Sumy, claiming it had targeted a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.We are now hearing from the Kremlin, with Russia insisting that it “strikes only military or military-related targets,” despite the widespread condemnation for the attack on civilians in Sumy (9:18). Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Kaliane Bradley: ‘I dreaded the book going to people I know’

The author of bestseller The Ministry of Time on how lockdown telly, Terry Pratchett and her Cambodian heritage shaped her Arctic time travel taleKaliane Bradley, 36, lives in east London and works as an editor at Penguin Classics. Her debut novel, The Ministry of Time (Sceptre), was published last year to critical acclaim and a place in the bestseller charts and is out in paperback now. It’s a vivid time travel tale following Lieutenant Graham Gore, a crew member of Franklin’s lost 1845 Arctic expedition, who is brought back to life in the 21st century as part of a government experiment. He develops an unlikely relationship with his “bridge”, a contemporary character helping him assimilate to the modern world. It was longlisted for the 2025 women’s prize for fiction and the BBC has commissioned a TV adaptation.What has the past year been like for you?Lovely and discombobulating. I veer wildly between immense gratitude and intense impostor syndrome. But I’m still working 4.5 days a ...

Politics