The EU and Britain have imposed sanctions on dozens of officials and institutions linked to Russia’s deportation and militarisation of Ukrainian children, with more than 20,000 reported affected since 2022. The measures target those responsible for unlawful deportations, indoctrination, and militarised education, and come amid ongoing fighting in Ukraine.
Starmer has argued that Labour will face big challenges and restore hope by rebuilding Britain’s relationship with Europe, moving closer to the EU, and prioritising energy, economy and security. The plan follows local and regional election losses and rising calls for a timetable to change leadership.
In a London speech, Keir Starmer has taken responsibility for Labour’s poor local election results and argues a Labour government remains the country’s best path forward, despite pressure from MPs and rivals.
An international study presented at ECO 2026 finds that countries with longer annual working hours tend to have higher obesity rates. Reducing hours by 1% is linked to a 0.16% drop in obesity, though causation is not proven. UK obesity sits around 26.8%.
The United Kingdom has updated its sanctions list to target nine individuals, two shadow banking houses, and the Zindashti network over alleged Iran-backed hostile activity. The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and director disqualifications, following a string of recent antisemitic incidents and heightened tensions linked to Iran.
Labour MPs and former leaders are pressuring Sir Keir Starmer to set a timetable for departure as election losses fuel growing calls for leadership change. Catherine West has floated a cabinet-led reshuffle, while Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting emerge as potential contenders. Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman have been brought back into government to shore up the party.
Long-term UK borrowing costs have surged to their highest in nearly 30 years as markets price in leadership instability. The yield on 30-year gilts has risen to 5.794% and the 10-year yield sits at 5.11%, with the pound softening amid talk of ministers urging Keir Starmer to quit and cabinet meetings underway.
The SNP has secured a fifth consecutive Holyrood term, while Labour ties for second with Reform UK. Greens win constituencies in Edinburgh Central and Glasgow, and Lib Dems win Orkney. The anti-independence vote is split, shaping a potentially new balance of power in Scotland as counting continues.
Plaid Cymru has secured the most seats in the Welsh Parliament, with Rhun ap Iorwerth poised to become Wales’ first minister. Labour has lost control for the first time since devolution, while Reform UK sits in a strong second place. Plaid signals a cooperative approach, seeking cross-party support to implement its programme.
Heathrow has reported 6.7 million passengers in April, a 5% drop from a year earlier, as unrest in the Middle East weighs on international travel. Transfer passengers are up 10% year over year, reflecting rerouting to Asia and Oceania via London. Officials say demand remains strong and will update forecasts in June.
France and Britain are coordinating a multinational effort to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Paris has stressed the plan is for a deconflicted, not blocking, mission, while Tehran warns any foreign deployment will trigger a response.
A spell of Arctic air is sweeping across the UK this week, bringing below-average temperatures, frost in rural areas, and a risk of wintry showers on higher ground. After a warm spell in late April and early May, unsettled conditions are set to prevail with showers and cooler days ahead. The update notes no widespread warnings but cautions gardeners about frosts.
A set of reviews and features across The Guardian, The Independent, and The Times of Israel showcase artists navigating big-budget platforms and grassroots strategies to amplify their work. From Billie Eilish’s 3D concert film co-directed with James Cameron to discussions of Moneyball’s enduring relevance and Walter Yetnikoff’s role in MTV’s lineup, readers are offered context on how distribution and audience engagement are shifting.
Greggs has pushed through fresh price hikes for its meal deals, citing higher costs from the Middle East conflict. The bakery chain runs 2,759 shops and has noted potential further increases if costs stay elevated. Shares rose about 5% after the update, with management stressing value to customers amid a shifting cost landscape.
Compass has published six-month results showing revenue up 9% at constant currencies, reaching $25 billion, with operating profit rising 12%. The group highlights new contracts worth $4.1 billion and says AI-enabled services are driving client demand for outsourced catering amid regulatory and data-driven needs.
The Guardian and The Japan Times report that Europe is accelerating planning for independent defense amid questions over US commitment in a potential crisis, with troop withdrawals and new deterrence efforts under discussion. Germany, France and others are expanding defence readiness as EU drills test mutual aid and national strategies.
The Item Club has warned that the UK faces a year of job losses driven by higher energy costs and supply disruptions linked to the Iran war, with South Wales and the Humber hardest hit. London, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow are also expected to shed thousands of posts as discretionary spending contracts.
Vodafone Group has completed a deal to take full ownership of VodafoneThree in the UK, valuing the unit at around 13.85bn including debt. The move follows a merger with Three UK last year and aims to accelerate synergies, expand 5G coverage, and simplify structure. Regulatory approvals are still required and the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole from Klong Prem Central Prison this morning, 11 May 2026, after serving about two-thirds of a one-year sentence. Hundreds of supporters greeted him; he will remain on probation, wear an electronic ankle monitor and report to officials for four months.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa has taken protective custody in the Philippine Senate after an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, originally issued in November, was unsealed. He has said he will exhaust legal remedies and his allies have placed the Senate on lockdown; police and NBI agents have been prevented from arresting him inside the chamber.
Ukraine's anti-graft agencies have suspected Andriy Yermak in a 460-million-hryvnia money-laundering scheme tied to construction near Kyiv. The investigation is ongoing; Yermak has resigned and Zelenskyy faces political embarrassment as authorities pursue charges.
Poland’s former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro has fled Hungary for the United States, after being granted asylum last year. He has asserted he is in the U.S., arguing that Poland’s ongoing legal actions against him are politically motivated. Polish authorities are seeking details on his travel and possible extradition.
Israel has enacted a law to establish a special military court to try roughly 300 attackers from the October 7 Hamas assault. The court could impose death sentences for genocide or related crimes. Trials will be public and broadcast; critics warn of due-process risks as cost and logistics are debated in the Knesset.
The EU has approved sanctions today targeting seven Israeli settlers or settler organisations and leaders accused of supporting violent colonisation of the West Bank, and has added sanctions on leading Hamas figures. The move has been enabled by Hungarys government change and stops short of trade curbs on settlement goods.
Iran has delivered a response to a US peace proposal via Pakistan, demanding an end to fighting, lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions, and compensation, while preserving its nuclear rights. President Trump has called Iran's reply "totally unacceptable" and rejected it, and strikes and drone incidents around the Strait of Hormuz are continuing to unsettle markets.
A suicide vehicle bombing and follow-on gun attack has struck a police post in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, late Saturday, killing multiple officers and wounding others. A new TTP splinter group has claimed responsibility; Islamabad has summoned Afghanistan's charge d’affaires and accused militants based in Afghanistan of masterminding the assault.
Iran has carried out executions linked to espionage allegations surrounding satellite activities, with one 29‑year‑old aerospace graduate reportedly forced into confession. Rights groups say trials were closed and defendants unable to defend themselves; Tehran has recently intensified hangings amid protests and regional tensions.
Rail workers have found six people dead inside a Union Pacific boxcar at a train yard in Laredo, Texas, on Sunday afternoon. Laredo police have confirmed six fatalities — five men and one woman — and have said autopsies will be done; authorities have not released identities or a cause of death. An investigation is ongoing.
China has hosted Iran's foreign minister and urged a full ceasefire as the U.S. pauses a naval escort operation. Washington is preparing for President Trump's reciprocal visit to Beijing on May 14–15, where leaders will discuss the Iran war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Chinese oil purchases that are fuelling U.S. sanctions pressure.
Over a sequence of days in the West Bank, Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinians across multiple villages, including Jalud, al-Mughayyir, Beit Imrin and Deir Dibwan. Reports describe beatings, arson, destruction of property, injuries and at least one fatality, with Israeli forces dispersing gatherings and making sparse arrests. The violence coincides with broader Israeli military raids and a surge in settler activity since the latest Gaza war began.
Venezuela’s interim government has addressed the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the Essequibo dispute with Guyana, reaffirming sovereignty and independence. In parallel, former President Trump has floated the idea of making Venezuela the 51st U.S. state, drawing fresh scrutiny to U.S. involvement in the region.
Paraguay's president Santiago Peña has visited Taiwan and has reaffirmed diplomatic support, signing cooperation agreements and praising shared democratic values. China has urged Paraguay to sever ties, saying most Paraguayans favour establishing relations with Beijing, and has criticised Paraguayan officials who visit Taipei.
The Trump administration has nominated Robert Hamilton to lead FEMA as its permanent administrator. The move has followed a Trump-appointed council report recommending sweeping reforms to FEMA that would shift more disaster responsibility to states and change how federal aid is triggered and delivered.
President Donald Trump has said he will suspend the 18.4¢ federal gasoline tax "till it's appropriate" to ease US pump prices, and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has said he will introduce legislation to do so. The move requires Congressional approval; suspension would shave roughly 4% off prices but would reduce highway funding.
The International Court of Justice is holding hearings over the Essequibo region, a border area disputed by Guyana and Venezuela. The 1899 arbitration largely favored Guyana, while Venezuela argues the 1966 Geneva agreement nullifies that ruling. Venezuela’s acting president is attending proceedings; a final judgment is expected months away.
European leaders are pushing back on Trump’s urging to withdraw from NATO while calling for stronger European defense. Germany faces pressure as France promotes national defense autonomy, and a recent survey shows waning trust in U.S. leadership among European publics. The debate centers on how Europe should defend itself with or without full U.S. backing.
South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that Parliament's 2022 vote to block an inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa over foreign cash found at his Phala Phala farm was unconstitutional, and Parliament has announced that its speaker will set up a multi-party impeachment committee to investigate the 2020 theft and whether Ramaphosa committed misconduct.
Eurovision 2026 has opened in Vienna with five countries — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — withdrawing in protest over Israel's participation. Organisers have tightened voting rules, issued a formal warning to Israel's broadcaster over a "vote 10 times" video, and are running an enhanced security operation as demonstrations are expected this week.
LIV Golf has announced a shift to a diversified, multi‑partner funding model after the Saudi PIF ends its backing at the close of the 2026 season. An independent board is overseeing the transition, with leaders Gene Davis and Jon Zinman guiding efforts to secure long‑term capital while LIV maintains its 2026 schedule and explores new investor partnerships.
Alberta separatists have submitted petitions for a referendum while a data breach has exposed personal details of roughly 3 million voters. Investigations by Elections Alberta, the RCMP, and privacy officials are underway as questions mount about foreign interference and campaign data use.
Israel has sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to the United Arab Emirates to help operate the defense systems, reflecting a deepening security relationship under the Abraham Accords as regional tensions with Iran persist.
France has formalized a defense cooperation pact with Kenya as Paris positions a broader Africa Forward agenda at a two-day summit in Nairobi. The accord covers training, intelligence sharing, maritime security, and judicial procedures for French troops, prompting debate over sovereignty and neo-colonial risk amid a shifting regional balance.
Eurovision organizers have warned that Israel’s entrant faced a formal reprimand after videos urging fans to vote multiple times were circulated. The incident follows tightened rules aimed at preventing third‑party government campaigns from swaying televote results. Officials say the videos did not alter the final outcome, but it has renewed debate about the contest’s neutrality in light of Israel’s participation.
As jet fuel costs surge amid the Middle East conflict, airlines are cancelling, consolidating, or delaying flights. Passengers are changing plans, booking earlier, or shifting to rail, with governments offering contingency measures to protect summer travel.
Trump has arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping aimed at stabilising the bilateral relationship amid strategic competition, with a busy schedule of talks and a pledged focus on economic ties and regional security.
Middle powers are increasingly hedging in response to Iran-related energy disruption and a looming Trump–Xi meeting. Countries are signing deals to secure oil, gas and technology, while global trust in the U.S. and China appears eroded.
The United States has designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps oil operations and an array of front companies, aiming to choke Tehran's oil shipments to China. The move comes days before President Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing, and amid broader pressure to constrain Iran's military-industrial capacity.
Narges Mohammadi has been transferred to Tehran Pars Hospital for medical treatment and has received a suspension of her sentence on heavy bail. The move follows health deterioration in Zanjan prison and comes amid warnings from her supporters that she could die if kept in prison.
Several wildfires are burning across Georgia and the Southeast, with containment improving in Brantley County while others persist; authorities warn the battles will extend for days as drought and wind drive spread.
EU foreign ministers are weighing direct talks with Russia over Ukraine, while insisting any negotiator must be credible and not closely tied to Moscow. Putin has floated Schröder as a possible EU envoy, a proposal that has drawn intra-EU caution.
Fires have burned record extents this year, El Niño is strengthening global heat and drought patterns, and inequality is linked to higher temperature-related deaths in Europe, with warnings of worsening extremes in coming months.
Public pressure grows over possible constitutional revision in the DRC as President Tshisekedi signals that any change would require a referendum. He warns that eastern conflict could delay the 2028 elections, while allies push for revisions to the charter and governance balance. U.S. sanctions and regional dynamics add to the volatility.
The Israel Defense Forces have identified the soldiers involved in vandalising a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, southern Lebanon, and have disciplined the troops. Investigations are continuing into related incidents in Debel involving a statue of Jesus and damagings of an area religious property as the ceasefire erodes.
Europe’s jet-fuel inventories have fallen sharply, risking a June shortage threshold. Airlines face higher costs and disruptions while industry attention shifts to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a long-term solution. The Independent reports a potential 23-day shortage under IEA projections, with UK seen as most at risk, while SAF production remains a tiny share of kerosene use.
Global energy pressures from the Middle East conflict persist as talks between the U.S. and Iran continue under a cloud of mutual demands. Inflationary effects are visible in gasoline prices, while the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint and domestic politics in the U.S. influence the discourse.
Senior Iraqi officials have accused the United States of aiding Israel in establishing a covert military base in western Iraq to support air operations against Iran. The Wall Street Journal previously reported the base’s existence; Baghdad alleges Washington backed the operation under cover of the U.S.-led coalition, and asserts it was a temporary placement rather than Israeli superiority.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Ukraine and Russia has begun for a three-day period, with both sides reporting casualties and repeated accusations of violations as fighting continues along the front lines.
Putin has said the Ukraine conflict is coming to an end and is open to European security talks, while a reduced Victory Day parade in Moscow is held. He names Gerhard Schröder as a preferred intermediary, and Zelenskyy frames Europe as united in supporting Ukraine amid ongoing fighting and ceasefire talks.
At the Nairobi Africa Forward summit, France has presented a package of €23 billion in investments, split between French and African sources, aimed at energy transition, digital and AI, and agriculture. Macron has framed the partnership as equal, highlighting governance improvements and a push to return looted art. The announcements include €14 billion from French entities and €9 billion from African investors, with a projected 250,000 direct jobs.
René Cárdenas has died at his Houston home at age 96. A trailblazing broadcaster, he became the first full-time Spanish-language MLB broadcaster with the Dodgers in 1958 and helped launch multiple Spanish-language broadcasts across MLB franchises, including the Astros, Rangers and Dodgers.
Ukraine has regained €35 million, $40 million and 9 kilograms of gold from state-owned Oschadbank after Hungary seized the assets in March. Kyiv calls the return a constructive step as Hungary shifts post-election, and Brussels funds remain under discussion.
A bomb exploded at D66’s The Hague headquarters on May 8 during a youth-wing meeting. No injuries have been reported. A 37-year-old suspect has been arrested. Prime Minister Jetten has condemned the attack as an attempt to intimidate democracy. This follows a prior 2025 incident at the same building.
Taiwan is watching the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing with vigilance as China reiterates its claim over the island. The U.S. policy remains unchanged, while Taiwan’s parliament has faced defence-budget scrutiny. Officials say stability in the Taiwan Strait depends on strength and defence readiness.
A United Airlines Boeing 767-400 from Venice to Newark has landed safely after a light-pole contact on final approach. A tractor-trailer driver sustained minor injuries and is hospitalized; investigators are reviewing flight data and cockpit records. The NTSB has opened an investigation. No passengers or crew were injured.
FIA, F1 and teams have moved to fast-track changes to power-unit regulations after a Miami weekend marked by energy-management concerns. Officials aim to tilt the balance toward the internal-combustion engine, with new talks about larger fuel tanks and possible future V8s to restore flat-out racing. The shift comes as teams upgrade ahead of the 2027 rules and long-term engine plans are debated.
Vance is leading a high-profile vice-presidential role with mixed reception as he campaigns in Iowa and attends events in Oklahoma and Des Moines. Polls show a competitive environment for Republicans amid economic concerns and foreign-policy tensions as party figures weigh the 2028 horizon.
Trump has backed challengers to several Republican incumbents in Indiana, Louisiana and Kentucky as part of a broader effort to reshape the party’s redistricting strategy and defend his influence ahead of midterms.
The NBA draft lottery has delivered a fifth pick to the Clippers through a deal that sent Indiana’s top-4 pick and Myles Turner away; Indiana now misses the No. 5 selection it hoped for and must regroup with Ivica Zubac joining the Clippers, while Tyrese Haliburton is set to return from injury.
Teenagers have extended a TikTok-driven trend of speed running Scientology buildings from Los Angeles to the UK, with rallies in London and Edinburgh and police involvement after several incidents. The Church condemns the activity as trespass and disruption.
The Supreme Court is weighing an emergency petition to pause a Fifth Circuit ruling that would restrict mifepristone access, while allowing telemedicine and mail delivery to continue for now. The government and manufacturers urge a rapid decision, as lower-court moves threaten broad abortion access.
Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap, has died at 94. The company has grown from a San Francisco jeans-and-record shop to a global retailer with brands including Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, generating about $15 billion in annual sales. Fisher shaped Gap’s culture with simple design, fair pay and philanthropy.
California has launched Golden State Start, a statewide program with Baby2Baby to provide 400 free diapers to newborns at participating hospitals. The initiative, funded by the state, targets low‑income families and will begin in 65‑75 hospitals this summer, expanding over time. Officials say the goal is to ease an ongoing cost burden for new parents.
California regulators have found hundreds of violations in State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims tied to 2025 fires, with possible penalties and a licensing review under way. The department’s market conduct exam reviewed 220 claims, identifying 398 violations in 114 cases. State Farm says the findings mischaracterize its response and argues the market is dysfunctional.
Retailers are increasing store investments to refresh layouts and services as online sales rise. Target is remodeling more stores; Walmart is upgrading aisles and driver efficiency; Burlington is opening 110 stores nationwide, including in California; IKEA opened a Culver City location with a city-focused layout; Walmart is adding beauty experts in hundreds of stores.
Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung in California, alleging copyright, trademark and right-of-publicity infringements linked to packaging that features her backstage photo. The suit seeks at least $15 million in damages and a permanent injunction.
Ronda Rousey has revealed the neurological struggles she faced after her 2015 loss to Holly Holm, detailing how migraine aura affected vision and cognition. She is now returning to MMA to fight Gina Carano on Netflix’s first MMA card, while UFC security has been heightened around a separate event featuring Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland following incendiary exchanges.
GitLab has announced a restructuring aimed at embedding AI agents into internal processes, flattening management, and trimming its footprint ahead of a broader shift to AI-enhanced software development. The company plans to finalize its new structure by June 1 and will reduce roles as part of the plan.
The Biden-era rule prioritizing conservation and restoration on public lands overseen by the BLM has been repealed. The move, announced in the Federal Register, aims to restore the federal land-use balance by rebalancing development interests with conservation, recreation and renewable energy goals.
The Department of Justice has indicted James Comey for allegedly transmitting a threat against President Trump through an Instagram post showing seashells arranged to read “86 47.” The post is claimed to reflect a serious expression of intent to harm the president, though Comey conteststhe interpretation, saying it represented a political message and he deleted the post after concerns were raised.