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Chief secretary to PM says he had been ‘reassured’ about Burnham’s economic plans after conversation with himDarren Jones has ruled himself out of running for the Labour leadership after a conversation with Andy Burnham.Speaking to Sky News, the chief secretary to the prime minister said he had been “reassured” about Burnham’s economic plans after their conversation on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Four Republicans joined Democrats to back a measure seeking to limit the US president’s military authorityUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Senate on Tuesday approved a war powers resolution preventing Donald Trump from continuing the conflict with Iran, delivering the president a significant but symbolic rebuke over a conflict that has proven unpopular with the US public.The resolution passed by a 50-48 vote, with four Republicans – Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Rand Paul of Kentucky – breaking with their party to vote in favor. John Fetterman, of Pennsylvania, was the sole Democrat to vote against it. Continue reading...

Former Starmer loyalist Nick Thomas-Symonds suggests battle over leadership would not be in ‘best interests of the country’Ed Miliband is to say that the UK must stick to net zero targets to deliver jobs and growth, as speculation surrounds the energy secretary’s role under a new prime minister, Fiona Harvey reports.It is the 10th anniversary of the vote to leave the EU. There will be some coverage of related events here, but Jakub Krupa will be covering this in more detail on his Europe live blog. Continue reading...

Starmer appeared ruthless in banishing the influence of Jeremy Corbyn, and winning power – but far less certain on how to wield itFew would describe him as a dramatic man, but Keir Starmer’s political career has been almost Shakespearean in its trajectory: a mere 11 years to enter parliament, lead Labour to an election win many assumed was impossible and then, inside the final two years, throw it all away.His demise is, of course, a reflection of an unprecedented era, one in which voter loyalties were atomised, a two-party hegemony fractured into five, and for the first time ever Labour faced a coherent threat on its left as well as its right. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Our senior political correspondent talks about how the coming days and weeks may unfold for the Labour government, and how Keir Starmer ended up the most unpopular prime minister in memory• Don’t get First Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. Today’s the day, probably. Keir Starmer is expected to announce that he will step down as prime minister, after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become party leader.This follows the Manchester mayor’s emphatic victory in last Thursday’s Makerfield byelection, where he leveraged his popularity and the prevailing anti-Starmer mood to secure more votes than Reform and Restore combined, cementing his credentials as the man who can take on the hard right in the next general election.Middle East | High-stakes talks between the US and Iran are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Switzerland, after a tense start that saw Iranian negotiators walk out in protest at a stream of threats issued by Donald Trump on social media.Edinburgh | Police Scotland said a man was charged after a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday night that are being treated as potential anti-Muslim hate crimes. Counter-terrorism officers were brought in to investigate the attacks in which five people were injured.UK weather | The Met Office forecasts that extremely high temperatures could last from Monday until Thursday, leading to health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people.UK news | Police have named the driver killed in the Bedford train crash on Friday, as his family said they “are devastated by his loss”.Prisons | Pet ferrets kept as therapy animals at the UK’s largest children’s prison have been co-opted by managers to kill rats, resulting in a bloody incident and concerns over child and animal welfare.Tuesday | This day marks the 10 years since the UK voted to leave the EU. A Guardian report analysing the complex legacy of Brexit through boats, bankers and borders is a good place to consider the legacy of leaving the EU.Tuesday | Also this day, Peter Murrell, the ex-chief executive of the SNP, is likely to be sentenced to prison custody after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.Wednesday | Donna Ockenden will publish her review of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Britain’s biggest maternity care scandal.Friday | Kings Charles will become the first head of state to reveal their personal tax bill, and will release other financial reports for the royal household. Continue reading...

• European EV manufacturers are shifting focus toward smaller, more affordable electric cars designed specifically for narrow city streets to challenge the dominance of oversized SUVs. • Smart Europe's director Xuan-Zheng Goh highlights that designing small cars is more complex than large ones, requiring strategic engineering to maintain style and functionality. • This shift is made financially viable by the steadily falling cost of batteries, allowing makers to produce compact models that remain profitable.

• Germany is preparing for a high-intensity match against a "speedy" Ivory Coast side in their upcoming World Cup fixture. • Germany enters the game with strong momentum after a dominant 7-1 victory over tournament debutants Curacao in their opening match. • Ivory Coast also secured a win in their first game, defeating Ecuador 1-0 with a late goal.

• Finland has developed a dual-use sports hall that doubles as a massive bomb shelter capable of protecting 7,000 people from nuclear threats. • Located just over 100 miles from the Russian border, the facility was created by excavating and expanding a former military rifle workshop. • The project serves as a strategic model for conflict preparedness, blending civilian recreational infrastructure with critical national defense needs.

• Noor Sweid, Founder and Managing Partner of Global Ventures, shares insights on the challenges of scaling businesses based on her experience taking her family business public in 2008. • Sweid highlights a landmark event from that period: the first company from the MENA region to ever list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). • The discussion examines why talent alone is insufficient for growth and analyzes the specific structural and systemic hurdles that prevent European companies from scaling effectively.

One Labour MP said there are about 200 who are prepared – if necessary – to sign Burnham’s nomination papersUK politics – live updatesHow quickly could Burnham become PM?Allies of Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting will ask cabinet ministers, friends and Labour grandees to persuade Keir Starmer over the weekend not to fight a leadership challenge.Burnham, who won a compelling majority in the Makerfield byelection overnight, is expected to travel to London on Monday to meet MPs in the expectation of becoming prime minister within weeks. Continue reading...

• European Council leaders are convening this week to address two critical, interconnected issues: the EU's long-term budget and the growing strategic challenge posed by China. • A bloc of nations, including Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria, is pushing for a more assertive stance regarding China's economic rise and the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. • The discussions are vital as the EU seeks to balance internal financial stability with the need for increased defense and strategic autonomy amidst shifting U.S. relations.

• Riot Games and ONE Up are organizing the VALORANT Challengers 2026 Southeast Asia: Split 2, a B-Tier tournament held in Indonesia. • The event features 12 teams competing in a hybrid online and offline format from May 22 to July 05, 2026. • A total prize pool of $50,000 USD is at stake, providing a significant competitive incentive for the participating regional teams.

Greater Manchester mayor beats Reform UK and hardline Restore Britain to return to Westminster after nine yearsUK politics – live updatesAndy Burnham has won the crucial Makerfield byelection by a huge majority, paving the way for a challenge to Keir Starmer’s premiership.The Greater Manchester mayor beat the Reform UK candidate, Robert Kenyon, and the new hardline Restore Britain party. Continue reading...

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League 2026 Final, posting 161/5 in 18 overs against GT's 155/8. • Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring 75 runs off 42 balls and achieving his fastest IPL fifty of his 19-season career. • The win secures the championship for RCB, marking a historic milestone for the franchise and Kohli.

Former health secretary calls on Keir Starmer to step down to end ‘uncertainty and paralysis’Wes Streeting has said he would be prepared to challenge Keir Starmer and spark a Labour leadership contest as early as next week.The former health secretary, who quit the cabinet last month, said “uncertainty and paralysis” would have to be ended and that he would give the prime minister at least the weekend to think about it. Continue reading...

• The European Union is approaching key implementation deadlines for the EU AI Act, creating significant regulatory hurdles for US-based AI startups expanding into Europe. • Industry specialists warn that the Act's strict compliance requirements and potential penalties may deter American innovation and limit the availability of advanced AI tools within the EU. • This regulatory shift matters as it establishes a global benchmark for AI governance, forcing companies to balance rapid development with rigorous safety and transparency standards.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has confirmed that India's extensive food buffer networks are fully secured to ensure food security. • The treasury is currently monitoring second-round logistics overheads, even as global energy markets experience a recent de-escalation. • India's institutional fiscal planning framework is re-aligning to address a complex combination of domestic and global resource constraints.

The Standard of Living by James Graham traces economist’s influence on British politics and cultureUK politics live – latest updatesAfter exploring the rise of Rupert Murdoch and the emergence of Gareth Southgate’s England team, James Graham has turned his attention to one of the most important political figures of the 20th century: John Maynard Keynes.His new play, The Standard of Living, directed by Nicholas Hytner and opening at the Haymarket in September, focuses on Keynes’s life from 1917 until his death in 1946 – a period in which he became the founding father of macroeconomics and reshaped government thinking on finance and the role of the arts. Continue reading...

• Taylor Swift has made history as the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. • During her acceptance speech, the singer tearfully thanked her family for their support throughout her career. • This achievement follows her record-breaking success as the first performer to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year four times.

Data analytics company loses on 22 out of 23 counts in lawsuit disputing how Swiss government rejected firm’s servicesThe US technology company Palantir has lost a legal challenge to force a Swiss independent magazine to publish its responses to articles about how the Swiss government rejected the firm’s services.The data analytics company lost on 22 out of 23 counts of the suit. In a ruling on Friday, Zurich’s commercial court dismissed the majority of counterstatement requests filed by the firm and its Swiss subsidiary finding that only a single passage in one article warranted a published response from the company. Continue reading...

• Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion warns that Europe lacks a comprehensive industrial policy necessary to compete effectively in the modern global economy. • Aghion highlights a concerning trend where long-term institutional investors, including pension funds, are directing the majority of their AI-related capital toward the United States. • This investment gap threatens Europe's technological sovereignty and its ability to foster home-grown innovation in critical sectors like artificial intelligence.

• France and Germany are seeking a radical reorganization of the EU's foreign policy service to better address current geopolitical challenges. • Proposed changes include limiting the powers of EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas and her department, potentially returning those authorities to the European Commission. • Simultaneously, a financial dispute has emerged as Poland demands the return of approximately 450 million euros spent on military aid for Ukraine.

Environmental groups say exchange between US government and SpaceX would worsen ecological risksSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Environmental groups on Wednesday sued in an attempt to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge in Texas, claiming it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf coast region already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket operations.The US Fish and Wildlife Service this month approved moving forward with the deal with SpaceX, which would surrender 683 acres (276 hectares) the company owns in exchange for federal land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuge. The 103,000-acre (41,700-hectare) refuge spans four counties along the Texas border and is home to animal habitats and historical landmarks. Continue reading...

• A team sponsored by North Carolina State University and supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) won the inaugural Presidential AI Challenge. • The competition engaged K-12 students, educators, and mentors nationwide to create innovative AI solutions addressing real-world community problems. • This initiative highlights the problem-solving potential of the next generation and promotes the development of future AI leaders across the U.S.

Complaints-led approach could pile £6bn of extra costs on to lenders, says City watchdogBusiness live – latest updatesThe City watchdog has warned that a wave of legal challenges to the compensation scheme for victims of the motor finance scandal could leave drivers waiting three more years for payouts, while piling £6bn of extra costs on to lenders.Bosses at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who have consistently hit out at lenders and a consumer claims group for challenging its scheme, told MPs the scandal could affect lenders for years, and have “consequences” by stretching its resources. Continue reading...

• PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty will lead the Indian contingent at the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament starting this Tuesday. • Sindhu is aiming to secure a victory to end a prolonged title drought, while Shetty will spearhead the men's singles campaign. • The event marks a critical opportunity for India's top players to gain momentum and climb the world rankings in a high-stakes Super 500 competition.

• The United States, Mexico, and Canada will co-host the upcoming World Cup, featuring 48 teams competing in 104 matches. • The tournament has been granted a high-level federal security designation, placing it on par with the Super Bowl and just below presidential inaugurations. • This security coordination is critical as the event coincides with major celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America's founding.

• The upcoming World Cup is set to begin next week, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. • Security officials, including FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel, are coordinating efforts through the agency's Joint Operations Center to manage the event. • The tournament presents an unprecedented security challenge due to its massive scale, involving more participating countries and a larger geographic footprint than any previous World Cup.