Pledges

Prime minister tells Jewish leaders legislation against malign state actors will go before parliament in JulyKeir Starmer has promised to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guards by introducing legislation in the next session of parliament in July.On a trip to Kenton united synagogue in north-west London on Thursday, the prime minister said he wanted “to make Britain a country where our Jewish community feels safe”. Continue reading...

• USAID announced $200 million emergency aid on April 8, 2026, for Ethiopia's northern drought affecting 4.2 million people facing acute famine. • Funds will deliver food, water, and medical supplies via UN partners to Tigray and Amhara regions, where child malnutrition rates hit 30%. • The crisis, worsened by conflict and failed rains, threatens Horn of Africa stability; US envoy warned of 'catastrophic' death toll without swift action.

Anas Sarwar says scheme would be part of overhaul of arts funding in ScotlandLabour has pledged to spend £30m on giving Scottish artists and musicians a living wage, mirroring a similar scheme in Ireland guaranteeing artists a basic income.Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the scheme would be part of a deeper shake-up of cultural funding in Scotland by integrating arts and culture into the Scottish government’s economic strategies if his party won power in next month’s Holyrood election. Continue reading...

• A UN report released April 5, 2026, warns of famine in Sudan affecting 25 million people, prompting the US to announce $500 million in emergency food aid amid ongoing civil war. • USAID Administrator Samantha Power highlighted clashes between RSF and SAF displacing 4.5 million since last year, with child malnutrition rates at 30% in Darfur. • The crisis underscores US humanitarian leadership but strains budgets amid domestic priorities, potentially influencing congressional funding debates.

• The United Nations reported on April 4, 2026, that 25 million Sudanese face famine risk due to ongoing civil war blocking aid routes in Darfur and Khartoum. • US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced $300 million in emergency food assistance during a Security Council session, bringing total US aid to $1.2 billion since 2023. • Conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces has displaced 8.5 million, making it the world's largest humanitarian crisis, per UN estimates.

Police and animal rights activists say trail hunting is frequently used as a ‘smokescreen’ for illegal foxhuntingThe government has said it will ban trail hunting, the rural sport that police and animal rights activists have long accused of being a “smokescreen” for illegal foxhunting.“We pledged to ban trail hunting in our manifesto and that is exactly what we intend to do,” said Sue Hayman, the animal welfare minister. “The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild and domestic animals are not put at risk of being killed or injured – that is clearly unacceptable.” Continue reading...