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Nigel Farage admits result was ‘disappointing’ after party hoped for tightly fought battle with BurnhamUK politics – live updatesAndy Burnham wins by huge majorityReform UK is examining whether sexist comments by its candidate in the Makerfield byelection might have harmed the party’s chances, after Nigel Farage accepted the result had disappointed him.The party’s examination of its defeat comes after Andy Burnham won 55% of the vote share in a poll which Reform hoped would be a tightly fought battle between the Labour leadership hopeful and its own candidate, the local plumber Robert Kenyon. Continue reading...

Council says it has so far spent £15,000 removing flags put up under campaign linked to anti-immigration protestsOxfordshire county council is seeking an injunction against the Raise the Colours campaign group after England flags were tied to lamp-posts across the county.The campaign has been putting up flags across the country since August last year, and there is a particular proliferation of them in and around Oxford. Though the campaign has said it is motivated by pride and patriotism, the flag raising has been linked to anti-immigration protests. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Aboriginal Australians and migrants the targets of John Drew, who claims he was once kicked out of Pauline Hanson’s party for being ‘too radical’ – but is now a branch officialWarning: This article contains racially offensive language and outdated referencesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA man who has defended the Hitler Youth organisation and used offensive and racist language about Aboriginal people and migrants is working as a policy development officer for One Nation in Queensland.Guardian Australia can reveal that John Drew, who claims he was kicked out of One Nation more than 20 years ago for being “too radical”, says he has been a party branch official in Brisbane since late last year. This is despite One Nation claiming it has introduced a sophisticated new vetting tool – dubbed Operation Obsidian – that it applies to any person taking up a party role. Continue reading...

Self-deprecating jokes and mental health advocacy have gone viral, and his political commentary is proving popularIt’s been quite the journey for Hunter Biden. In the space of a few weeks, the former first son has gone from a man seen as a political liability to an unlikely galvanizing force within the Democratic party, through his emergence on social media as a mental health advocate, razzer of Republicans, and working-class whisperer.In the process Biden has switched from the GOP’s bete noire to, actually, someone that a fair number of Republican voters seem to like. Continue reading...

• Taiwan's listed semiconductor and electronics companies reported robust revenue growth in May 2026, driven primarily by the AI supply chain. • Server makers and memory chip providers saw triple-digit gains, highlighting a structural reordering of the sector's top earners. • The data reveals a widening performance gap between companies benefiting from AI infrastructure and those tied to legacy consumer electronics.

Site takes no action over hate posts against UK politicians including Kemi Badenock, Shabana Mahmood and Zia Yusuf X has refused to take down dozens of social media posts reported as “hate, abuse or harassment” in which prominent UK politicians, including Kemi Badenoch, have been racially abused.In May, researchers from the social inclusion thinktank British Future reported 30 posts from this year in which the Conservative party leader was called the N-word. In each case the researchers used the platform’s “hate, abuse or harassment” reporting option. X refused to act in the majority of cases, despite repeated requests. Continue reading...

Any official reprimand will come from regulator Ofcom, but not for at least two monthsUK politics live – latest updatesElon Musk’s X will face no action to remove a mass of posts inciting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months, despite widespread condemnation of the platform and its billionaire owner.Concern over the role social media played in spreading disturbing images and fuelling anger continued to grow on Wednesday as police and community leaders urged calm. Continue reading...

Renewed outrage at White House’s use manga and anime imagery after US president is depicted as ninja NarutoJapanese anime and manga fans are urging Donald Trump to stop using their favourite characters in his social media posts.About 20,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org entitled Protect Japanese Manga, protesting against the official White House X account posting videos featuring unauthorised use of imagery from the popular Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Naruto series. Angry fans have also been posting their displeasure on social media. Continue reading...

Survey in run-up to byelection also finds support for water renationalisation, wealth tax and cap on political donationsA majority of voters in Makerfield say they would be less likely to vote for an election candidate if they have posted offensive content on social media, polling shows.The polling for the campaign group 38 Degrees, undertaken by Survation, asked 518 voters in the Makerfield constituency for their views on a range of issues, with 55% saying they would be less likely to vote for a politician who has posted offensive material online. Continue reading...

US health secretary gets nip from one of two serpents he grabbed at home of fellow Trump official Dr OzHealth secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr on Tuesday added to his lengthening catalog of bizarre wild animal encounters by posting to social media a video of himself in Florida wrestling with two snakes.Kennedy, who has previously admitted dumping the carcass of a bear cub in New York’s Central Park, and is also alleged to have cut the penis of a road-kill raccoon, is seen grabbing the pair of serpents with his bare hands. Continue reading...

• Nvidia reported a record-breaking profit of $58.3 billion, driven by the ongoing global surge in demand for AI chips. • To reward shareholders, the company announced a dividend increase and a massive $80 billion stock buyback program. • Portfolio manager John Belton of Gabelli Funds described the results as "solid," noting that they align with previous strong quarters without introducing major new developments.

• Viral social media posts have falsely claimed that the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest was secretly bought, sparking widespread accusations of rigging. • These claims gained significant traction online, fueling a broader debate regarding the transparency of the competition's voting rules and promotional strategies. • The controversy highlights the vulnerability of high-profile international events to misinformation and the intense public scrutiny surrounding the contest's integrity.

President posted more than 50 times in three hours, attacking on Obama, NY Times and supreme courtDonald Trump unleashed a late-night social media tirade against his political enemies, attacking predecessors including Barack Obama with false accusations and amplifying calls for his Democratic rivals to be prosecuted.Just hours before a high-stakes trip to China for talks with Xi Jinping, the US president posted more than 50 times in a three-hour spree from Monday evening into the early hours of Tuesday. Posts included doctored images of himself on the $100 bill and demands that political opponents be arrested. Continue reading...

• President Trump announced nominations of former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Pennsylvania Republican Doug Mastriano to diplomatic positions, strengthening his administration's ties to Republican loyalists. • Lake, who lost her 2022 Arizona governor race, and Mastriano, a controversial Trump supporter, represent Trump's continued reliance on MAGA-aligned figures for key government roles. • The nominations signal Trump's strategy of rewarding political allies with international positions despite their lack of traditional diplomatic experience.

• EverQuote Inc. delivered strong Q1 2026 results with 30% EBITDA growth, highlighted in May 2026 investor presentation showing accelerating profitability. • AI initiatives drove expansion in insurance quoting platform, boosting operational efficiency and market penetration. • Performance underscores Nasdaq-listed firm's momentum in digital insurance marketplace amid tech-enabled growth.

• RadNet, Inc. reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $575.6 million on May 10, 2026, marking a 22.1% increase from $471.4 million in Q1 2025. • The company revised upward its 2026 guidance for imaging center revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, reflecting strong operational momentum. • This performance underscores growing demand for diagnostic imaging services amid healthcare sector expansion and capacity investments.

Ex-TV star launches viral video a day before debate with mayor Karen Bass and city council member Nithya RamanLos Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt reposted a scathing AI-generated ad on X on Tuesday, which cast the city as a bleak hellscape under its current leadership.In the viral video, created by film-maker Charlie Curran, flames engulf the Hollywood sign; a socialist militia patrols the streets; and California’s political brass, including governor Gavin Newsom, mayor Karen Bass and former vice-president Kamala Harris, are depicted as royal bourgeois who care little for their subjects’ plights. Continue reading...

Rami Elghandour tells Guardian in exclusive interview that cancellation sends ‘dangerous’ message to studentsRutgers University abruptly rescinded its invitation to a prominent alum who was slated to deliver a graduation speech next week after some students complained about social media posts he had published about Palestine.Rami Elghandour – a tech entrepreneur, graduate of Rutgers’ School of Engineering, and executive producer of the Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab – was set to deliver a commencement address at the school’s campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey on 15 May. Continue reading...

Tice’s image on X was almost certainly generated or altered using AI, according to Peryton IntelligenceIn a picture of a blue-skyed day in Birmingham, a diverse group of Reform supporters gathered with placards and cheesy grins to knock on doors for their party. Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, posted the picture as evidence of the activists’ commitment through thick and thin.“That is what resilience looks like,” he wrote. “This is what belief looks like.” Continue reading...

Trump appears to have crossed a line with his Christian supporters. Will it come back to bite him in the midterms?Donald Trump’s depiction of himself as Jesus Christ and recent spat with Pope Leo XIV could come back to bite him and the Republican party in the midterm elections, according to experts, with some newly aggrieved Christian groups set to play an outsized role in key races across the US.The president’s Trump-as-the-Messiah Truth Social post sparked immediate criticism among some Christians, including some on the right. Trump, 79, said he thought the AI image of him administering an ethereal light to a stricken man’s head as translucent figures descended from the heavens represented him as a doctor. Continue reading...

Labour calls on Nigel Farage to sack candidates and says his party’s checks ‘clearly not fit for purpose’Reform UK’s checks on candidates are “clearly not fit for purpose”, Labour has said after two more candidates in May’s local elections were accused of making offensive or potentially racist social media posts.Meanwhile, it emerged that Restore Britain, the party set up by the MP Rupert Lowe after he left Reform, appeared to have accepted a donation from someone who has called publicly on social media for “another Hitler” to come to power. Continue reading...

US president’s desperation for war to end has seen him trying to speed through a process he does not fully controlMiddle East crisis – live updatesA set of mismanaged and premature media announcements by Donald Trump and Tehran has led to the collapse of any progress towards a peace settlement between Iran and the US.The recent missteps ended with Iran saying it would reinstate a complete block on the movement of commercial shipping through the strait of Hormuz and that it would not allow any of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be exported out of the country. Continue reading...

Current and ex-officials at the CDC warn Americans’ health security in danger under RFK Jr’s directionFourteen months after Robert F Kennedy Jr was sworn in as US health secretary, the country’s prime public health agency over which he presides is in a state of disarray.Eighty per cent of the top director positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stand vacant, with no permanent leader to drive policies affecting the health of millions of Americans. No one is in place to coordinate the agency’s day-to-day work fighting infectious disease, combatting heart conditions or screening for cancer. Continue reading...

The US president’s conservative, Christian supporters decried the Truth Social post, calling it ‘disgusting’ Just months after signing legislation that will pull nearly 12 million Americans off health insurance by gutting Medicaid, Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself to Truth Social on Sunday depicting him as a Jesus Christ-like figure, with divine light emanating from his hands as he heals a stricken man in a hospital bed with a demon from hell floating in the background.Some of his most high-profile and loyal Christian supporters, many of whom have stood by the president through multiple other indiscretions, are unable to contain their righteous fury. Continue reading...

• UCLA finished 3-9 last season in Big Ten after coach DeShaun Foster fired following 0-3 start. • Quarterback Iamaleava threw for nearly 2,000 yards and led team in key stats despite struggles. • Update reflects ongoing conference realignments and coaching changes impacting college football.

President’s post on Truth Social is in keeping with a pattern of using shocking video to sow fear about immigration and justify mass deportationBesieged by questions about his war on Iran and his wife’s statement on Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump tried to shift the national conversation back to his immigration crackdown by posting a graphic, distressing video of a woman in Florida being killed last week by a man he described as an illegal immigrant from Haiti.The video, taken by a surveillance camera outside a Fort Myers gas station, showed a man identified by authorities as a Haitian immigrant using a hammer to bludgeon to death the woman, who was reportedly a clerk at the gas station. Continue reading...

Thinktank says algorithms are fuelling isolation and division after analysing posts shown to social media usersReform UK voters are the least likely to see posts from friends and family on social media and most likely to see content from brands and news organisations, a study has found.The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) thinktank said algorithms were fuelling isolation and division after its research analysing users’ feeds on Instagram, Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok found that only 13% of Reform UK voters saw content from someone they knew, compared with 23% of Green party voters. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Health secretary says industrial action in England also threatens to derail NHS progress on waiting timesWes Streeting has accused resident doctors of “torpedoing” their own pay rises and training jobs by walking out on strike again, as tens of thousands of doctors began a six-day stoppage in England.The health secretary said there was a “legitimacy” to concerns over jobs and wages but that the British Medical Association had scuppered any chance of a breakthrough when it rejected what he said was a serious offer from the government to transform medics’ conditions. Continue reading...