The Guardian

Liberal judge attacks emergency-docket rulings designed to benefit president as ‘scratch-paper musings’ The supreme court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has delivered a sustained attack on her conservative colleagues’ use of emergency orders to benefit the Trump administration, calling the orders “scratch-paper musings” that can “seem oblivious and thus ring hollow”. Jackson, the court ’s newest j…

The S&P breached 7,000 points for the first time in history, in a rally that erased stark losses incurred at start of war Wall Street scaled a fresh all-time high on Wednesday amid growing optimism among investors that the US-Israel war on Iran will soon be over. The benchmark S&P 500 breached 7,000 points for the first time in history, after climbing 0.8% over the course of the day, finishing at…

Commons rejects proposal by 256 to 150 to side with government on plan to tackle online harms affecting children MPs have voted against a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media for the second time, as the prime minister summoned tech bosses to demand tougher action on internet safety. The House of Commons rejected a Lords amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill that impo…

Donors exceed funding target at Berlin conference but prospects for ceasefire remain distant More than £1bn (€1.15bn) has been pledged for war-ravaged Sudan at a conference in Berlin, eclipsing the funding target organisers had set to help mitigate the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The financial commitments made on Wednesday will also help offset a chronic humanitarian funding shortfall in…

Met seeking two suspects and says overnight incident in Finchley being treated as antisemitic hate crime A suspected attempted firebomb attack on a north London synagogue was a bid to intimidate British Jews, a leader at the place of worship has said, vowing that they would continue to work to “build bridges”. The Metropolitan police said a manhunt was under wayafter two people “wearing dark clot…

MPs and peers say pitting defence and welfare against each other risks losing public support for increased spending on the military Senior Labour figures have warned that Rachel Reeves must find alternative ways to increase military spending rather than slashing welfare, saying it risks public support for investment in defence. Pressure has been mounting from Labour backbenchers for the Treasury …

UK chancellor steps up criticism, telling Washington event she is unconvinced conflict has made world a safer place Middle East crisis – live updates Rachel Reeves has stepped up her criticism of Donald Trump’s war on Iran, describing it as a “mistake” that has destabilised the global economy and damaged living standards around the world. In a marked fraying of the transatlantic relationship, the…

Announcement comes before Matt Brittin replaces Tim Davie as director general next month The BBC is to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years. Staff were informed of the cuts, which will affect about 10% of the BBC’s 21,500 employees, at an all-staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading...

Brain Cole Jr, accused of planting the devices near the RNC and DNC buildings in DC, faces two more felony counts The individual accused of placing pipe bombs near the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees on the night before the January 6 Capitol attack is now facing two more felony counts, as detailed in a newly released indictment on Wednesday. Brian Cole Jr, 3…

Who wouldn’t want to be a king, a footballer, a friend of lions, a maestro and Jesus? This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday In Donald Trump ’s telling, the image showed him as a medical professional, never mind the lack of training. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better,” Trump said, responding to the outrag…

US president will need to show heavy costs of war were worthwhile while Iran must choose between instant and delayed gratification Middle East crisis – live updates If talks between Iran and the US reconvene within the next few days in Islamabad, Donald Trump will have two major political hurdles to overcome – first showing that any deal he secures is better than the one signed by Barack Obama in…

‘Palestine’s Mandela’ suffers three recent attacks including assault where prison guards set a dog on him, lawyer says Jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti is at immediate risk in Israeli jails, where he has been attacked three times in as many weeks, including in one assault last month where prison guards set a dog on the 66-year-old, his lawyer has said. Barghouti is often called Palestin…

Lelia Doolan, who finished 220km trek at parliament gates, says use of Shannon airport violates Irish neutrality A 91-year-old peace activist has crossed Ireland on foot and arrived in Dublin to petition the government to bar US military flights. Lelia Doolan completed a two-week, 220km trek on Wednesday, ending at the gates of parliament accompanied by throngs of supporters. Continue reading...

Airport body has asked for power to suspend EES checks requiring personal information and biometrics Business live – latest updates Travellers going through some European airports are reportedly waiting up to three hours at border checks because of the EU’s new entry-exit system (EES) . Passengers in airports in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece are waiting sever…

Lifestyle influencer died while on vacation with boyfriend, who local officials say has since had his passport ‘withheld’ Ashly Robinson, a US lifestyle influencer, died last week while on vacation in the Tanzanian islands of Zanzibar with her boyfriend, Joe McCann. Robinson’s death on 9 April, just days after her birthday and a marriage proposal from McCann, has sparked suspicion on social media…