78 m. ago New Zealand is failing to protect its vast ocean resources. We owe it to the world to act | Helen Clark and Kayla Kingdon

Less than 1% of our country’s seas are highly protected and the damaging practice of bottom-trawling must be restrictedIt’s a remarkable feat that a small, isolated island nation of just five million people has managed to stake a claim to one of the largest ocean territories in the world.New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spans more than 4m square kilometres – an area 15 times the size of our landmass.Rt Hon Helen Clark is a former prime minister of New Zealand, and former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb is chief executive of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce reliance on US defense, Carney says

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will meet NATO’s military spending guideline by early next year

Events

10 h. ago Senior council leader ‘confident’ of more spending review support for the poor

The head of a group of authorities in deprived areas across the North and the Midlands also called for capital investment in ‘left behind’ places.

Politics

14 h. ago DoJ urged to investigate US group accused of working as Modi

Prominent Sikh gurdwara says Pennsylvania-based Hindu American Foundation has promoted ‘interests of the BJP’One of the largest Sikh houses of worship in the US is calling on the Trump administration to investigate a non-profit it has alleged is working as a “foreign agent” on behalf of the the Indian government and prime minister Narendra Modi.The Fremont Gurdwara Sahib, which said it draws 5,000 Sikh worshippers every week and is a “fulcrum” of the Sikh community in the US and around the world, has asked the Department of Justice to launch a national security investigation into the Hindu American Foundation, to determine whether the Pennsylvania-based non-profit should be required to file as an Indian foreign agent. Continue reading...

Economics

14 h. ago Macron must lead the EU push to end Israel’s war on Gaza | Jo

The Israeli government is assailing the French president – but visible economic and political action is the only hope for peaceEmmanuel Macron has become enemy No 1 for the Netanyahu government. That’s because the French president aims to create momentum for a Palestinian state beside Israel encompassing the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the Gaza Strip, reviving what is fast becoming an out-of-reach possibility – a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.That’s why Macron has earned the fury of an increasingly unhinged Israeli prime minister. France is expected to co-chair an organizing conference at the United Nations in New York in mid-June, taking advantage of heads of state already in North America for the Canadian-based G7 summit a few days earlier. He hopes this conference will include the all-important Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Lack of recent meetings with Treasury an ‘issue of concern’, says Swinney

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will lay out her spending plans on Wednesday.

Politics

15 h. ago Neville Chamberlain's naive words of optimism six days before WWII began

The beleaguered British prime minister pursued an appeasement policy with Nazi Germany in a bid to prevent an escalation into a global conflict.

Events

15 h. ago Keir Starmer says technology can create a ‘better future’ as he addresses AI fears

Prime minister announces changes to boost UK’s artificial intelligence infrastructure in speech at London Tech WeekUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has said ministers should be able to “look every parent in the eye” and pledge that tech can create a “better future” for their children.The UK prime minister opened London Tech Week with a series of policy announcements on artificial intelligence, including a boost to AI infrastructure and a new AI tool to transform the planning system. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Prime Minister’s remarks at London Tech Week 2025: Monday 9 June

Prime Minister’s remarks at London Tech Week 2025: Monday 9 June  GOV.UK

Politics

16 h. ago Sir Keir Starmer vows to overcome sceptical public on ‘harnessing power’ of AI

The Prime Minister said AI would cut through planning red tape to speed up housebuilding.

Politics

17 h. ago Argentina’s Javier Milei calls Spanish Prime Minister ‘local bandit’ in latest war of words

Milei previously called the Spanish PM’s wife corrupt which led to a diplomatic spat between the two countries

Politics

17 h. ago Zia Yusuf issues humiliating apology for row over Reform MP's 'dumb' burka ban question that saw him quit Farage party

Mr Yusuf used a BBC interview to say he regretted a tweet in which he said Sarah Pochin had asked a 'dumb' question at Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday.

Politics

22 h. ago Could an alliance of eight small countries turn out to be Europe’s anchor? | Paul Taylor

Amid geopolitical storms and the rise of populism, the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ is gaining clout as a bulwark of western resolveWith Europe’s political kaleidoscope spinning wildly in the populist winds, a group of northern countries is gaining weight as a geopolitical anchor. Known as the Nordic-Baltic eight (NB8 in diplomatic jargon), it brings together small northern European states that, individually, might have little clout in international security and politics. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they have wielded growing influence as a pressure group for western resolve, offering an attractive blend of democratic security, defence integration and societal resilience.Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden established their regional cooperation format in 1992, after the end of the cold war, with regular meetings of prime ministers, parliamentary speakers, foreign and defence ministers and senior government officials. It beg...

Politics

29 h. ago Keir Starmer unveils plan to help one million schoolkids in major tech drive

The Prime Minister will announce plans to help around one million school-age children gain skills in technology under a new TechFirst scheme to help them learn AI and computing skills

Science

37 h. ago Thousands protest in Madrid against government of prime minister Pedro Sánchez

Ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ party has faced series of corruption allegations over past yearTens of thousands of people have gathered in central Madrid to protest against the government of Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and to demand an early general election as his party, his administration and his family continue to be beset by a succession of corruption allegations.Sunday’s protest, called by the opposition conservative People’s party (PP) under the slogan “Mafia or democracy”, attracted between 45,000 and 50,000 people, according to the central government’s delegation to the region. Organisers, however, put the attendance at 100,000. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Thousands protest in Madrid against Pedro Sánchez’s government

Ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ party has faced series of corruption allegations over past yearTens of thousands of people have gathered in central Madrid to protest against the government of Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and to demand an early general election, as his party, his administration and his family continue to be beset by a succession of corruption allegations.Sunday’s protest, called by the opposition conservative People’s party (PP) under the slogan “mafia or democracy”, attracted between 45,000 and 50,000 people, according to the central government’s delegation to the region. Organisers put the attendance at 100,000. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Molly Russell’s father urges PM to act over online harms as ‘app cap’ considered

Ian Russell told Sir Keir Starmer to ‘act decisively’ in toughening legislation to protect young people online.

Politics

46 h. ago Canada won’t become the 51st US state – but could it join the EU?

Donald Trump’s extraordinary threats have angered Canadians and Europeans, and the idea of a new kind of transatlantic alliance is gaining traction Joachim Streit has never stepped foot in Canada. But that hasn’t stopped the German politician from launching a tenacious, one-man campaign that he readily describes as “aspirational”: to have the North American country join the EU.“We have to strengthen the European Union,” said Streit, who last year was elected as a member of the European parliament. “And I think Canada – as its prime minister says – is the most European country outside of Europe.” Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago Is Angela 'Two Homes' Rayner paying the council tax surcharge on her grace

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was last night facing questions over whether she is paying her own council tax surcharge on her second home.

Economics

53 h. ago Thomas Tuchel responds to England fans labelling Keir Starmer a '****' after supporters sang abusive chants about the Prime Minister during the Three Lions' lacklustre 1

Some foul-mouthed individuals made their feelings toward Starmer clear during an uneventful first half and their songs were audible live on ITV.

Politics