UN adds Israel and Russia to blacklist for sexual violence in conflict

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 Wales on Friday: “My picture has been on more front pages in Scotland this week than my former husband’s has, and I don’t think that’s right.” Continue reading...

Exclusive: Some fear raising rate for people aged 18-20 will exacerbate unemployment while others point to lack of evidenceRising 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 the full minimum wage, which Labour promised to do in its manifesto. Continue reading...

Audit finds 99.7% of those registered to vote are US citizens as DoJ presses for access to information citing low removalsUtah 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 April 2025, found that 99.72% of Utah’s registered voters are confirmed US citizens. Of the more than 2 million voter records reviewed, 27 individuals were identified as non-citizens and removed from the rolls. Only 13 of those individuals had ever cast a ballot. The review, released on Wednesday by Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson’s office, also flagged 25 probable non-citizens, who have been given 30 days to provide proof of citizenship or face removal from the voter rolls. Continue reading...

Christian Castro was charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime after video emerged of non-fatal shooting in JanuarySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA 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 Enforcement (ICE) agency, was taken into custody 11 days after Minneapolis prosecutors charged him with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the 14 January non-fatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Continue reading...

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 been reached.The two versions indicate Trump may once again be practising his “art of the deal” as he seeks to talk his way out of a war that has disrupted global energy supplies and rocked the world economy. Continue reading...

Police conducted manhunt for Jacob Daniel Baker after bodies of men were discovered separately earlier this weekSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Authorities in Hawaii have arrested a man who they say is linked to three killings, following an extensive manhunt across theBig Island.Officials announced that they had taken Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, into custody on Thursday afternoon after receiving information that led to his capture. The development came after law enforcement found the bodies of three elderly men earlier in the week. Continue reading...

Survey shows 44% increase on RSPB reserves of bird that almost became extinct in England in the 60sMore 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 264 pairs counted in 2025, a 44% increase in five years. Continue reading...

Former DUP leader’s barrister said the woman was mistaken in linking the letter to his alleged sex offencesJeffrey 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 Friday that Donaldson’s letter to the alleged victim had “nothing to do” with her accusations of sexual abuse and referred to other behaviour. Continue reading...

Opposition says bill to prevent ‘foreign influence’ in elections gives ruling party carte blanche to annul will of votersSign 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 country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as “illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic ⁠dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and ⁠the intervention of foreign governments ⁠or agencies”. Continue reading...

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad denied assaulting PC Zachary Marsden in 2024 incidentTwo brothers who were accused of assaulting a police officer at Manchester airport in 2024 will not face a third trial after prosecutors failed to provide evidence.Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, were filmed having a physical confrontation with PC Zachary Marsden in July 2024. Continue reading...

Fleet Street’s first female advertising director rose to the top of a male-dominated industry and championed other women throughout her careerCaroline Marland, the Guardian’s trailblazing former managing director who broke glass ceilings and helped others do the same, has died at the age of 80.Marland, who became Fleet Street’s first female advertising director, was a pioneer in spotting the potential of the classified ad market for newspapers. She rose to the top of the male-dominated newspaper industry and championed other women throughout her career. Continue reading...