The Guardian

Brandon Johnson, a progressive Democrat, applauded the pope for pushing back against Trump’s policies in meeting Brandon Johnson, the Chicago mayor, cast Pope Leo XIV as a powerful global ally on social justice, migration and reparations after meeting the Chicago-born pontiff at the Vatican, saying their shared roots and priorities could help amplify efforts to protect vulnerable communities. “We…

The GOP-friendly map approved by state lawmakers now goes to Republican governor who is expected to sign it Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Louisiana Republicans approved a new congressional map on Friday which would eliminate a majority-Black congressional district that was at the center of a landmark supreme court ruling gutting section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The new map …

US president’s move comes as both sides try to prevent fresh ceasefire breaches scuppering a potential deal Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has circulated a draft peace agreement for the war with Iran among allies including Israel as both sides try to prevent fresh breaches of the ceasefire escalating out of control and scuppering any deal. In an attempt to speed up the negotiation…

Ex-SNP leader says she appeared on more front pages than her husband this week, adding: ‘I don’t think that’s right’ Nicola Sturgeon said she “should not be held responsible for the wrongdoing of men” after Peter Murrell, her estranged husband, admitted to embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the SNP this week. The former Scottish first minister told an audience at the Hay festival in …

Exclusive: Some fear raising rate for people aged 18-20 will exacerbate unemployment while others point to lack of evidence Rising rates of youth unemployment have created a split at the top of government over how fast it should meet its promise to give young people the full minimum wage. Peter Kyle, the business secretary, is understood to believe now is not the time to give 18- to 20-year-olds …

Tehran denies deal has been reached that would open strait of Hormuz and eliminate country’s nuclear programme Donald Trump has claimed he could approve an Iran peace deal on Friday that contains major concessions from Tehran, including the opening of the strait of Hormuz and the elimination of the country’s nuclear programme. However, top Iranian officials signalled a final agreement had not bee…

Christian Castro was charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime after video emerged of non-fatal shooting in January Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A federal immigration officer wanted for shooting a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration’s crackdown in Minnesota was arrested on Friday in Texas, authorities said. Christian Castro, of the Immigration and Customs …

Audit finds 99.7% of those registered to vote are US citizens as DoJ presses for access to information citing low removals Utah released the results of a year-long audit of the state’s voter rolls , finding that the vast majority of its voters are verifiably US citizens, amid an escalating legal battle with the Trump administration over access to voter registration data. The audit, launched in Ap…

Organisation cites abuse by security forces, including rape of male detainees The UN has added Israel and Russia to a blacklist for sexual violence in conflict, citing abuse by security forces including rape of male detainees. . The UN verified sexual abuse of 31 Palestinian men, women and children from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank between 2023 and 2025. Israeli attacks included repe…

Survey shows 44% increase on RSPB reserves of bird that almost became extinct in England in the 60s More than half a century after the Dartford warbler almost vanished from the English countryside, the charismatic heathland bird appears to be staging a comeback. A survey has revealed the highest number of Dartford warblers ever recorded on reserves run by the bird conservation charity RSPB, with …

Opposition says bill to prevent ‘foreign influence’ in elections gives ruling party carte blanche to annul will of voters Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Amid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico ’s senate has passed ‌a constitutional amendment to include “foreign interference” as grounds to annul election results in the country. The bill, which was presented by the c…

Former DUP leader’s barrister said the woman was mistaken in linking the letter to his alleged sex offences Jeffrey Donaldson told a woman who has accused him of sexual assault that he regretted inflicting “hurt, pain and distress” but his comments were not related to the allegations, a court has heard. A lawyer for the former MP and Democratic Unionist party leader told Newry crown court on Frid…

Kenneth Law, who sold lethal chemicals online with instructions on how to use them, admits counselling or aiding suicide ‘It was too easy’: families ask how Kenneth Law enabled so many suicides A Canadian man who mailed “suicide packets” of poison to more than 100 people in dozens of countries – including Canada, the UK, the US, Italy, Australia and New Zealand – has pleaded guilty to 14 counts o…

Angus Taylor believes the former PM is uniquely placed to help the party as its new president, but some fear he will render it even more unelectable Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Immediately after ousting Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor used his first press conference as opposition leader to debut a slogan he hoped would define a new era of Liberal conservatism. “The door …

Bushra Shaikh, from Surrey, who appeared in The Apprentice, ‘ highly active’ in spreading regime message A UK television personality went on two state-sponsored tours of Iran this spring where she met senior officials and was “active” in spreading the regime’s message, according to an investigation by a Iranian fact-checking organisation. Bushra Shaikh, from Surrey, owned a luxury clothing brand …