50 m. ago Having as many babies as possible is not the only way to show you love humanity | Zoe Williams

Elon Musk is obsessed with falling birth rates, as is the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán. Why would leftwingers want to buy into their ‘pronatalist’ agenda?‘Perpetuating humanity should be a cross-politics consensus,” read an article in the Atlantic last week, “but the left was mostly absent at a recent pronatalism conference.” It’s such a simple proposition – everyone loves babies and wants the species to perpetuate, right? – but pronatalism has provoked a ferocious battle on the American left. Should they be trying to engage meaningfully at a preposterous far-right conference? Or should the left stop self-flagellating and start organising?But what is pronatalism – and is it really borderline fascist? I don’t want to think about slippery, bad-faith, rightwing claptrap any more than you do, but in an era in which US politics can sneeze and the world catches encephalitis, we do, regrettably, have to think about bad-faith everything, all the time. Continue reading...

Politics

60 m. ago Keir Starmer facing claims of Brexit 'betrayal' as PM 'could align with Brussels rules on meat and dairy and accept rulings of EU judges'

Furious Brexiteers are warning the Prime Minister against leaving Britain as a 'rule-taker' in his ongoing negotiations with the EU.

Politics

3 h. ago PM promises to deliver on Hillsborough Law on 36th anniversary of disaster

Sir Keir Starmer had pledged to introduce the law before this year’s anniversary of the tragedy, which took place at the FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

Society

3 h. ago Keir Starmer ‘appalled’ by attack on prison officers by Manchester bomb plotter and vows urgent investigation

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said ‘it is clear something went terribly wrong’ in the management of Hashem Abedi

Events

3 h. ago Anthony Albanese backs Australian cafe owner in Canada over reported Vegemite stoush with local authorities

Australian PM says dispute over added vitamins in breakfast spread is ‘rather odd’ given Canada accepts shipments of UK’s MarmiteElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastAs the Trump administration’s tariff regime dominates headlines, Australia and Canada have become entangled in their own mini trade stand-off.Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Tuesday threw his support behind a cafe owner in Toronto who was reportedly in a dispute with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) over importing Vegemite.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...

Culture

5 h. ago Australian PM voices concern after report Russia requested access to Indonesia air force base

Anthony Albanese says ‘obviously do not want to see Russian influence in our region’, and analysts say it is unlikely the unusual request would be grantedAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said officials are seeking further information after a report emerged that Russia is seeking to base military aircraft in Indonesia’s remote Papua region, on Australia’s northern doorstep.Albanese said on Tuesday: “We obviously do not want to see Russian influence in our region, very clearly. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Hillsborough Law campaigners ‘in the dark’ on 36th anniversary of disaster

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had pledged to introduce new legislation by April 15.

Events

9 h. ago Meghan Markle shares message featuring royal title she's 'banned' from using

Meghan Markle took to Instagram to share a message that was sent to her by Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister - but some have questioned the move

Politics

11 h. ago Proposals on competitiveness to be brought before Irish ministers

Work to make Ireland more competitive is underway amid turbulence to trade caused by US tariffs.

Politics

15 h. ago Government 'confident' British Steel furnaces will stay on amid China row

The Deputy Prime Minister insisted that the North Lincolnshire site was ‘crucial’ to the industry in the UK

Politics

17 h. ago Meghan Markle raises eyebrows by sharing message with title she's banned from using

Meghan Markle took to Instagram to share a sweet message sent to her from the Deputy Ukrainian Prime Minister following Prince Harry's trip to the nation - but one part of it caught the eye of many people

Politics

18 h. ago Starmer, Rayner and Reeves release tax returns for first time since election

The tax returns cover a period of time when Labour was still in opposition, the 2023-24 tax year.

Politics

18 h. ago ‘I need my RSJs’ Rayner jokes during visit to Scunthorpe steelworks

The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary thanked British Steel staff for keeping the plant running during a turbulent time.

Politics

18 h. ago Hungary adopts constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ gatherings

The controversial amendment also recognises only two sexes, providing a basis for denying other gender identitiesEurope live – latest updatesHungarian lawmakers have voted through a controversial constitutional amendment that campaigners described as a “significant escalation” in the government’s efforts to crack down on dissent and chip away at human rights.Backed by the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and his rightwing populist party, Fidesz, the amendment passed on Monday along party lines, with 140 votes for and 21 against. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ gatherings

Amendment also enshrines recognition of only two sexes, providing basis for denying gender identitiesHungarian lawmakers have voted through a controversial constitutional amendment that campaigners described as a “significant escalation” in the government’s efforts to crack down on dissent and chip away at human rights.Backed by the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and his rightwing populist party, Fidesz, the amendment passed on Monday along party lines, with 140 votes for and 21 against. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Starmer ‘appalled’ by attack on prison officers and pledges urgent investigation

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said ‘it is clear something went terribly wrong’ in the management of bomb plotter Hashem Abedi.

Events

21 h. ago Welsh 'Stop Brexit Man’ cleared of flouting ban after playing Darth Vader's theme near Parliament

Steve Bray played edits of Darth Vader's theme and The Muppet Show with edited words just as then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak entered Parliament for Prime Minister's Questions

Politics

21 h. ago Former Malaysian leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who extended political freedoms, dies at 85

A hospital in Kuala Lumpur says former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has died aged 85

Politics

22 h. ago Keir Starmer warned at least 80 Labour MPs could lose their seats as their majorities are smaller than the number of constituents who are set to have their disability benefits cut

Those opposed to the squeeze on benefits are using an analysis of data to highlight the 'real electoral risk' of the Prime Minister's actions.

Events

22 h. ago Keir Starmer heads on holiday after emergency recall of Parliament delays trip

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has headed on holiday with his family after an unpredictable few months since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House

Politics