4 d. ago With his immigration bill, Canada’s prime minister is bowing to Trump | Tayo Bero

Mark Carney’s Strong Borders Act would mean a crackdown on refugees as Canada seeks to bolster its relationship with the USThere are many stereotypes about Canada – that we are a nation of extremely polite people, a welcoming melting pot, and that we’re the US’s laid-back cousin who lives next door.But right now, Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, is bucking all of that lore after pressure from the US in the form of Donald Trump’s “concerns” about undocumented migrants and fentanyl moving across the US-Canada border. In response, the recently elected Liberal PM put forward a 127-page bill that includes, among other worrying provisions, sweeping changes to immigration policy that would make the process much more precarious for refugees and could pave the way for mass deportations. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Netanyahu says Iran war creates ‘new opportunities’ to free Gaza hostages

Comments by Israeli prime minister come as Donald Trump increases pressure on Israel and Hamas to strike deal

Events

6 d. ago BBC says it ‘should have pulled’ Glastonbury live stream of Bob Vylan anti

Broadcaster says footage from festival contained ‘utterly unacceptable’ antisemitic sentimentsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe BBC has said it should have cut the live stream of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, saying it contained “utterly unacceptable” antisemitic sentiments.The corporation and its director general, Tim Davie, have come under significant pressure from Keir Starmer and ministers following the broadcast on Saturday in which the musician Bobby Vylan of the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]”. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Glastonbury organiser says Irish band Kneecap ‘welcome’ despite Keir Starmer objections

‘Everyone is welcome here’ organiser Emily Eavis insisted when pressed about the prime minister’s claim that it would not be ‘appropriate’ for the Irish hip-hop trio to perform

Politics

1 week ago Stormont Infrastructure Minister pressed over next steps after A5 setback

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said Liz Kimmins ‘must urgently outline the next steps’.

Politics

1 week ago NI Water based decisions on a budget allocation it did not have – Liz Kimmins

The Stormont Infrastructure Minister denied a claim by Infrastructure Committee chairwoman Deborah Erskine of a ‘whitewash’.

Politics

1 week ago Labour rebels hit back at Keir Starmer as DWP disability benefit cut revolt grows

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to press on with the controversial reforms to disability benefits - despite being rocked by a revolt of at least 119 Labour MPs

Events

1 week ago Starmer vows to press on with welfare cuts despite Labour rebellion

Opponents of government bill seek to pressure ministers into making changes to benefit reforms

Politics

1 week ago Dozens of rebel Labour MPs seek to halt Starmer’s welfare reforms

Opponents of the government’s bill that would cut benefits want to pressure ministers into making changes

Politics

1 week ago Dozens of rebel Labour MPs seek to stop Starmer’s welfare reforms

Opponents of the government’s bill that would cut benefits want to pressure ministers into making changes

Politics

1 week ago Over 100 rebel Labour MPs seek to stop Starmer’s welfare reforms

Opponents of government’s bill that would cut benefits want to pressure ministers into making changes

Politics

2 w. ago Russian attacks on Ukraine continue as Odesa hit by drones – Europe live

One person was reported killed and 14 injured when Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnightNorwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre is about to give a press conference on Norway’s contribution to Nato shortly.Let’s see if he has anything to say on Spain’s objections, too. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago New Zealand halts millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over deals struck with China

Wellington says it has paused payment of some funding until Pacific island nation takes steps to ‘repair the relationship and restore trust’New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from the New Zealand foreign minister’s office has said.New Zealand, which is the Cook Islands biggest funder, won’t consider any new money for the nation until the relationship improves, a spokesperson for foreign minister Winston Peters told the Associated Press on Thursday. Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Russia’s ‘unrelenting’ attacks on Ukraine show Putin not interested in peace, EU says, after at least 15 die in Kyiv strike – Europe live

Kaja Kallas says strike in Kyiv one of ‘most devastating’ of war as Zelenskyy accuses world leaders of ‘turning a blind eye’According to the Spanish government, we should soon get a decent idea of what caused the massive and unprecedented blackout that hit the Iberian peninsula at the end of April.The findings of a special committee convened to investigate the episode are due to be made public at a press conference addressed by Spain’s environment minister, Sara Aagesen, at 1 pm Madrid time. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago The Guardian view on Netanyahu’s Iran war: long planned, recklessly pursued – and perilous for all | Editorial

Israel’s strikes against Tehran risk spiralling conflict, flout legal norms and may permanently bury the last chance for nuclear diplomacyIn late 2020, Gen Mark Milley – then chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff – urged Donald Trump not to attack Iran and to ignore pressure from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was pushing hard for military action. Mr Trump backed down after the general warned that attacking Iran would start a war, with the risk of US officials being “tried as war criminals in The Hague”.Five years on, Israel’s prime minister has the fight with Tehran that he has spent decades preparing for, bolstered by Mr Trump’s claims that international law no longer applies. After all, why worry about red lines when The Hague’s already got a warrant out for you and your allies pretend not to notice? It helps when the US treats the international criminal court like a rogue actor. Mr Trump has even gone after the court’s judges and prosecutor for ...

Events

2 w. ago European leaders at G7 trying to bring Iran back to negotiating table

UK prime minister and French president among those pressing for de-escalation of conflict with IsraelMiddle East crisis – live updatesUS politics live – latest updatesEuropean leaders at the G7 summit in Canada are trying to engineer an Iranian return to the negotiating table using Gulf leaders as intermediaries.But Iran is demanding a joint ceasefire with Israel, while Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is resisting the move, and Donald Trump has yet to show his hand. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer agrees to national inquiry into grooming gang scandal after months of pressure

The prime minister has bowed to pressure to agree to set up an inquiry into grooming gangs with legal powers to call witnesses

Events

3 w. ago Voices: Will Israel’s war on Iran force Keir Starmer to raise defence spending even more?

Despite talking of moving Britain to ‘war-fighting readiness’, the prime minister has so far resisted Nato pressure to increase spending further, writes John Rentoul

Politics

3 w. ago UK sanctions two Israeli ministers as it ramps up pressure over Gaza

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, will be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Politics