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Sports carmaker extends lifespan of petrol-engined Emira, made in Norfolk, to continue to cater for US marketBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of the luxury sports carmaker Lotus has called for government support for its UK factory as the Chinese-owned company insisted it will not abandon its British roots.Lotus said it had extended the lifespan of the £80,000 Emira petrol-engined sports car, made by 900 employees in its factory in Norfolk, in order for the brand to continue to serve the US market. Continue reading...

Nine out of 10 workers express support for policies on artificial intelligence that labor unions may fight forUS workers overwhelmingly support pro-worker policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and view labor unions as the most reliable protectors of workers from the effects of AI, according to a new poll released by the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US.More than nine out of 10 workers surveyed expressed support for policies on artificial intelligence that labor unions may fight for, including 95% supporting a requirement that a human be the final decision maker on any issues affecting individual workers and their employment. Continue reading...

US president says Tehran’s peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘a piece of garbage’We are restarting our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran after Donald Trump said the ceasefire was “on life support” after rejecting Tehran’s peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable”.Referring to the ceasefire in force since 7 April, Trump said: “I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didn’t even finish reading it. Continue reading...

US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockadeMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to end the Iranian blockade of the vital waterway.The US president dismissed Iran’s peace proposals as stupid, and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal. Continue reading...

Party leader has been vocal about its gains in London and there is a feeling that its losses could have been worseBy any sane person’s reckoning, the Conservative party had a night to forget in Thursday’s local, mayoral and devolved elections. It lost about 500 councillors in England and ceded control of three local authorities to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK – losing to the rightwing upstarts in England, Wales and Scotland. Why then is Kemi Badenoch hailing these results as proof that “the Conservatives are coming back” – and why do many Tory MPs appear to agree with her?The Conservative leader was vocal on Friday about the eye-catching gains her party made in politically atypical London, where the Tories won back the totemic council of Westminster, took the most seats in Wandsworth council and saw off the threat from Reform in Bexley and Bromley. Continue reading...

• A new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey released May 8, 2026, found that strong majorities in both parties prefer an independent panel draw House district lines. • The polling data suggests voters across the political spectrum have grown frustrated with partisan gerrymandering and support reform measures limiting partisan advantage in redistricting. • The bipartisan sentiment contrasts with ongoing state-level redistricting battles where Republican and Democratic parties continue fighting over congressional boundaries.

Revocations will start on Friday for those who owe $100,000 or more, and then expand to those who owe $2,500 or moreSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The US state department will begin revoking the US passports of thousands of parents who owe a significant amount of unpaid child support.The department told the Associated Press on Thursday that the revocations would begin on Friday and be focused on those who owe $100,000 or more. That would apply to about 2,700 American passport holders, according to figures supplied to the state department by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Continue reading...

• DMK leaders Kanimozhi NVN Somu and TKS Elangovan sharply criticized Congress for extending support to TVK, warning it will be 'wiped out everywhere'. • The reaction follows Congress breaking pre-poll ties with DMK, providing 5 MLAs to help TVK reach 112 seats short of majority. • DMK views the move as betrayal amid hung assembly, fueling accusations as rivals like AIADMK explore counter-alliances.

• Congress MP Karti Chidambaram announced conditional support to TVK for government formation, emphasizing respect for the public's mandate for change. • Support is offered provided the administration remains secular and excludes communal elements or BJP-aligned parties like AIADMK. • Chidambaram defended the shift from DMK ally, noting no pre-poll alliance had majority and aiming to block BJP influence via proxies.

• Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Vijay, secured 107 seats and gained 5 from Congress, totaling 112, but remains 6 short of the 118 needed for majority. • Governor Rajendra Arlekar is not convinced of TVK's numbers, delaying Vijay's swearing-in as Chief Minister despite his request for time to prove majority. • VCK remains undecided on support, while Left parties and IUML have declined, heightening political uncertainty in the state.

• A KFF poll reveals 41% of US adults back the MAHA agenda amid rising healthcare concerns ahead of midterms. • 55% of respondents stated healthcare costs will have a 'major impact' on their voting decisions, outpacing food policy issues. • The survey, conducted recently, carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, highlighting voter priorities in public health policy.

Pontiff responds after US president accuses him of ‘endangering a lot of Catholics’ with stance on Iran warMiddle East crisis – live updatesPope Leo has said he has never supported nuclear weapons and that those who criticise him need to speak the truth, in response Donald Trump’s latest tirade accusing him of “endangering a lot of Catholics” with his stance on the Iran war.Speaking to journalists on Tuesday night after leaving the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, the first US-born pontiff said: “The mission of the church is to preach the gospel, to preach peace.” Continue reading...

• Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in Tamil Nadu elections, falling 10 short of the 118-seat majority needed to govern alone. • TVK is seeking outside support from Congress (5 seats), CPI (2 seats), CPM (2 seats), and VCK (2 seats) to secure 129 total seats and form a minority government, with potential swearing-in as early as May 7. • The alliance signals a historic rupture in the DMK-Congress alliance that has governed Tamil Nadu for years, as Congress considers backing TVK instead of its long-time partner DMK which won 59 seats.

Analysis finds victims’ compensation program is awarding less money to fewer people, although budget has increasedVictims of violent crime in California are finding it increasingly hard to get support from the state, a new analysis has found, a development that has locked some of the most vulnerable people out of funds to help cover crime scene cleanup, relocation costs, funerals and therapy.California established the nation’s first victims’ compensation program in 1965, aimed at helping victims of violent crimes and their families cover some of the costs sprung onto them by the violence. Continue reading...

• During an interview with Hugh Hewitt on Salem Radio, President Donald Trump characterized polls showing low public support for his military operations in Iran as 'fake.' • The denial comes as multiple polling organizations report that Americans increasingly disapprove of the U.S. war effort in Iran, indicating significant public concern over the conflict. • Trump's dismissal of negative polling reflects broader White House tensions over declining public support for its foreign policy in the Middle East.

• Indian companies have invested $16.4 billion in the United States, supporting 70,800 jobs, demonstrating India's growing role as a source of foreign direct investment. • The investment figures were highlighted at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, where additional Indian deals are expected to be announced, reflecting continued expansion of India Inc. into US markets. • These investments span technology, manufacturing, and services sectors, strengthening bilateral economic ties and positioning Indian firms as significant employers in North America.

Letter coordinated by Survivors Against Terror, which includes bereaved relatives, after spate of attacks on Jewish communityDozens of survivors and bereaved relatives of 19 separate terror attacks have written an open letter of solidarity to the Jewish community, saying: “Standing together in the face of hatred is not just the right thing to do – it’s the most effective way of defeating terrorism.”The letter was coordinated by the group Survivors Against Terror (SAT), after terror attacks on two Jewish men in north London earlier this week, in what was the latest in a series of attacks on the community in the UK. Continue reading...

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi has called for discussions to revise the constitution, saying it should ‘reflect the demands of the times’Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has called for “advanced discussions” on revising the pacifist constitution, as large demonstrations were held nationwide to oppose any changes to the country’s supreme law.Speaking during an official visit to Vietnam, Takaichi said the constitution, which was written by US occupation forces after the second world war, “should periodically be updated to reflect the demands of the times”. Continue reading...

• A new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey reveals that strong majorities in both Republican and Democratic parties support independent panels drawing House district lines. • The bipartisan finding suggests public appetite for reform of the politically charged redistricting process. • The survey highlights voter frustration with gerrymandering and calls for institutional change to ensure fair representation.

• A new POLITICO‑Citrin Center‑Possibility Lab survey released Friday shows that strong majorities of both Republicans and Democrats favor an independent commission to draw U.S. House district lines, weakening arguments against ending partisan gerrymandering. • The Trump administration is weighing proposals to codify independent redistricting panels by tying federal funds to states that adopt such commissions, a strategy that could reshape battleground districts in 2026 and beyond. • Civil‑rights groups and voting advocates cheered the poll findings, arguing that independent commissions would reduce partisan manipulation of maps that currently skew toward both parties.

EnComm Aviation says the firm’s action has cut off vital support for crisis-hit countries including South Sudan and the DRCBritain’s biggest weapons manufacturer, BAE Systems, is facing a £120m lawsuit after scrapping support for aircraft used to deliver aid to some of the world’s neediest countries.EnComm Aviation, a Kenya-based aid cargo operator, claims the decision forced the cancellation of humanitarian contracts and reduced supplies to South Sudan, now threatened by famine, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), among others. Continue reading...

• Samuel Monroe Jr., known for 1990s films 'Menace II Society' and 'Tales from the Hood,' is on life support after contracting meningitis 18 months ago while filming in Las Vegas. • His wife, Shawna Stewart, confirmed doctors misdiagnosed the infection, leading to immense financial strain over nine months in hospitals and rehab centers. • The family launched a GoFundMe on April 28, 2026, seeking $50,000 for care; it has raised 7% so far, including $1,000 from radio host Kurt Alexander.

• A majority of Americans express concern over rising healthcare costs and support increased federal tax spending to address these challenges, according to the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index released March 17, 2026. • The poll demonstrates bipartisan support for government action on healthcare affordability, reflecting widespread concern among the U.S. public about escalating medical expenses. • Americans also show increased trust in government handling of childhood vaccination decisions, signaling broader public confidence in health policy interventions.

Chief minister Aminuddin Harun says he would continue in his post for now, even though he no longer enjoys majority support in the 36-seat state assembly in light of UMNO’s move over his handling of a crisis involving the state’s monarchy.

Social mobility groups say post-16 funding gap risks young people falling out of education, work and trainingA coalition of 14 social mobility organisations is urging the government to fund a “student premium” to support disadvantaged young people post-16 and prevent them from “falling through the cracks” into joblessness.State-funded schools in England currently receive additional pupil premium funding to support children from low-income backgrounds, who are eligible for free school meals. Continue reading...

Prime minister says ‘you never hear from … the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job’Good morning and welcome to today’s live coverage of UK politics.Despite several calls for his resignation from within his own party, Keir Starmer told the Sunday Times that the “vast majority” of the Labour party are supportive of his leadership. Continue reading...

• Filipino coast guard vessels and Chinese maritime militia engaged in a tense standoff Friday near Scarborough Shoal, with both nations claiming territorial waters; no shots were fired, but vessels came within 500 meters of each other, Filipino officials reported. • The incident involved disputed fishing rights and resource access; the Philippines detained three Chinese fishing boats accused of illegal harvesting in Manila-claimed waters, while China demanded their immediate release. • The US State Department reiterated commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines and called for peaceful resolution, warning that any military escalation in the strategic waterway threatens global trade and stability.

• Support for Israel has dramatically shrunk among Democrats in Congress, marking a political shift. • Last week saw a seismic change with key figures like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlighting the reversal. • This internal party divide impacts U.S. foreign policy and bipartisan legislation on Middle East aid.