Labour’s NEC approves Burnham’s byelection pathway back to parliament 15. May 2026 (19:40) Party’s governing body allows Greater Manchester mayor to run for selection as candidate in MakerfieldAndy Burnham has cleared the first hurdle as he seeks to become an MP again after Labour’s governing body said it would approve his request to stand in the candidate selection process for the upcoming Makerfield byelection.The Greater Manchester mayor has two years of his term remaining, which means there will also need to be a mayoral byelection if he stands. Under Labour rules, sitting mayors need the approval of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to stand for Westminster. He would also need to be formally selected. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US justice department to seek death penalty for man charged with killing two Israeli embassy staffers 15. May 2026 (19:38) Prosecutors have described fatal shooting outside of DC’s Capital Jewish Museum last year as calculated and plannedThe US justice department will seek the death penalty for the man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum, prosecutors said in a court filing on Friday.Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left an event at the museum last May. Rodriguez shouted “free Palestine” during the shooting and later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” according to his indictment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Threatened indictment of Raúl Castro ratchets up US pressure on Cuba 15. May 2026 (19:31) Trump administration move echoes indictment of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro as fuel crisis racks CubaTensions between Cuba and US seem set to rise further amid reports that
Raúl Castro, the country’s 94-year-old former president, may soon face the type of indictment that led to the US abduction of the Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, in January.Although Raúl is officially retired, he remains the most potent figure in Cuban politics following the death of his brother Fidel in 2016, and by targeting him Washington appears to be heaping pressure on Cuba’s communist leadership at the end of an already extraordinarily intense week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK joins European deal to send rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs 15. May 2026 (19:30) All 46 Council of Europe members sign agreement ‘deplored’ by human rights organisationsThe UK and 45 other European countries have signed an agreement that explicitly endorses plans to send unwanted asylum seekers to third country hubs.A political declaration from the 46 members of the Council of Europe, the body that oversees the European convention on human rights (ECHR), said states had an “undeniable sovereign right” to control their borders. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tennessee Democrat ends re-election bid after map redrawing carves up his district 15. May 2026 (19:27) New map reshapes representative Steve Cohen’s majority-Black Memphis district and gives advantage to RepublicansDemocratic representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee on Friday announced that he is ending his bid for re-election, his career upended by the redistricting battles that are sweeping the country after last month’s supreme court decision.Republicans in Tennessee this month enacted a new US House map that carves up Cohen’s majority-Black district, reshaping it to the GOP’s advantage as part of Donald Trump’s strategy to hold on to a slim majority in the November midterm elections. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Extremely cruel and tragic’: Iranian director Asghar Farhadi speaks out against state violence and the war 15. May 2026 (18:39) The film-maker, who won the Grand Prix for A Hero in 2021, condemned both the killing of protestors and the conflict’s bombing campaigns during a Cannes press conferenceOscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has described the deaths of civilians in Iran as “extremely cruel and tragic” during a press conference at the Cannes film festival.Farhadi, whose new Paris-set drama Parallel Tales premiered on the Croisette on Thursday night, was asked about working free from censorship in France, the war involving Iran, the US and Israel, and the repression of protesters in his native country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
German leader Merz says he ‘would not advise my children to go’ to US 15. May 2026 (18:38) Chancellor says he no longer views US as land of opportunity amid ‘deeply polarising’ social climateFriedrich Merz, the German chancellor, already embroiled in a row with Donald Trump over the Iran war, has said he would not advise his children to study or work in the US in the current climate.Speaking to a conference of young Catholics in Würzburg, the conservative leader, viewed by many as a transatlanticist, said he no longer saw the US as the land of opportunity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran says it and Oman are coordinating future management of strait of Hormuz 15. May 2026 (18:04) Muscat silent about plans – opposed by US – to charge fee and demand details on nationality of all transiting shipsOman has been caught in geopolitical crossfire after Iran said it was coordinating with Muscat over the future management of the strait of Hormuz, including Tehran’s plans – opposed by the US – for fees to be paid by commercial shipping to a new Iranian government agency.The Omani exclave of Musandam lies to the south of the contested waterway, which normally carries a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil traffic but has been blockaded for 10 weeks since since the US-Israeli attack on Iran in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greens suggest they will properly contest byelection, in blow to Burnham 15. May 2026 (17:46) Statement follows speculation party would not field candidate in Makerfield or barely fight seat UK politics live – latest updatesThe Greens are going to campaign for the Makerfield byelection, complicating Andy Burnham’s potential route back to parliament against what is expected to be a strong Reform UK challenge.A statement from the Greens said candidate selection was in process and that the party had learned from its win in another Greater Manchester seat in February, when it overcame a 13,000 Labour majority in Gorton and Denton. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FTSE 100-listed insurer Hiscox’s shares leap amid report of takeover bid 15. May 2026 (17:32) Canada’s Intact Financial Corp is said to be exploring offer, as London-listed Tate & Lyle attracts US suitorShares in Hiscox surged to record highs on Friday as it became the latest UK takeover target after a flurry of overseas bids for British businesses this week.Canada’s Intact Financial Corp, which provides property and casualty insurance, is said to be exploring a potential takeover of Lloyd’s of London insurer Hiscox, according to a report by the Insurance Post. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
