‘He’s a natural’: Andy Burnham’s allies give his social media style a thumbs up 22. May 2026 (14:00) Labour MPs and PR experts praise his refreshingly forthright approach that is a marked contrast to Keir StarmerUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham’s fingers must be aching. Between pitching to become the MP for Makerfield, continuing in his day job as the mayor of Greater Manchester and going for his regular runs, Keir Starmer’s would-be challenger has also found enough time to reply to dozens of posts on social media.Since it became clear that Burnham planned to stand as a candidate in the Makerfield byelection last Thursday, allies have delighted in his snarky retorts on X, pointing to posts that combine humour with a passive-aggressive thumbs-up emoji as proof he is a natural, and refreshingly forthright, communicator. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Standard Chartered boss apologises for ‘lower-value human capital’ comments amid job cuts 22. May 2026 (13:39) Bill Winters faced backlash over remarks about some of near 8,000 staff set to lose roles to AIThe chief executive of Standard Chartered has apologised for referring to some of the almost 8,000 staff that are set to lose their jobs to artificial intelligence as “lower-value human capital”.Bill Winters offered the apology after a backlash over comments he made earlier this week as the London-headquartered lender became one of the first major global banks to lay out plans to cut about 7,800 back-office roles, primarily in response to AI. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Uranium and control of strait of Hormuz key as talks to end US-Iran war continue 22. May 2026 (13:24) Pakistani mediators believe permanent ceasefire within reach although major points of disagreement remainFuture control over the strait of Hormuz and a demand from Washington that Tehran export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium remain key stumbling blocks, as Pakistani mediators continued to seek a permanent ceasefire they believe is still within reach between the US and Iran.Meanwhile, Israel and Iran each fear the other is about to launch a surprise attack on its territory while the US president, Donald Trump, continues to insist a fresh assault on Iran is an option available to him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Carlo Petrini, Slow Food movement founder, dies aged 76 22. May 2026 (13:14) Italy’s president leads tributes to campaigner who spent four decades promoting sustainability and local cuisineCarlo Petrini, the journalist who founded the Slow Food movement in protest against the arrival of the first McDonald’s in Italy, has died aged 76.Petrini, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in recent years, died in his home town of Bra in northern Italy’s Piedmont region. He had led Slow Food, which since 1986 has campaigned against fast-food culture by promoting sustainability and local cuisine, as president until 2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Full-on summer heat’: western Europe braces for unusually high temperatures 22. May 2026 (13:01) Portugal, Spain, France and UK expected to exceed 30C on Friday and into next week, with new May records predictedEurope live – latest updatesA large swathe of western Europe is bracing for the first significant heat event of the summer, with temperatures forecast to rise to more than 10C above the norm and new monthly records for May expected to be set in possibly hundreds of places.Temperatures across Portugal, Spain, France and the UK were expected to exceed 30C (86F) on Friday and into next week, reaching 32C in Paris and London and 35C in south-west France, with highs of up to 38C in the Guadiana and Guadalquivir regions of Spain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UN’s climate crisis vote shows political momentum is growing, say experts 22. May 2026 (12:27) Resolution backed by 141 states hailed as ‘new chapter’ that could improve climate diplomacy and litigation effortsWhen the UN general assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of a landmark climate crisis ruling on Wednesday, the Pacific island of Vanuatu’s prime minister hailed the result as the start of “a new chapter” in climate action.“The task before all of us now is to translate legal clarity into meaningful action, stronger cooperation, and greater protection for present and future generations,” said Jotham Napat. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Local US newspaper workers allege Hearst is trying to ‘destroy unions’ 22. May 2026 (12:00) Media company says it is ‘committed to good faith bargaining’ amid claims including contract violationWorkers at local newspapers owned by Hearst allege the company is trying to “destroy unions” amid claims of widespread anti-union tactics, including violating union contracts and bad-faith bargaining.The Albany Newspaper Guild, which represents the Times Union newspaper in Albany, New York, said it had been more than 17 years since the union had a contract and there had been little progress toward reaching a new one. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuelan makeup artist who was deported to El Salvador seeks asylum in Spain: ‘I feel safe here’ 22. May 2026 (12:00) Andry José Hernández Romero was deported from the US to El Salvador’s notorious Cecot prison before he was allowed to return to VenezuelaOne of the Venezuelan men sent from the US to El Salvador’s most notorious prison by Donald Trump has moved to Spain to request asylum after concluding that he did not feel safe back home and did not trust US authorities sufficiently to return to fight his legal case.Andry José Hernández Romero left Venezuela for Spain in early February and is due for his first asylum hearing in court there in a few days, hoping that the country’s liberal approach to immigration will afford him kinder treatment than the US or his own country had provided him, he revealed to the Guardian in his first interview since leaving for Europe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham launches byelection campaign as Green candidate quits after just nine hours – UK politics live 22. May 2026 (11:54) Andy Burnham addressing supporters as he officially launches campaign to be Labour candidate for MakerfieldAndy Burnham has welcomed supporters at his campaign launch, telling them “this means the world to me”.“Hope is in the air, can you feel it?” he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s ‘disappointment’ with Nato lays groundwork for ‘one of the most important’ summits ever, Rubio says – Europe live 22. May 2026 (11:25) The US secretary of state said that leaders will have to respond to Trump’s ‘disappointment’ with the alliance’s ‘response to our operations in the Middle East’Rubio begins with thanks to Sweden for hosting the ministerial meeting.But that’s where the niceties end as says the upcoming Ankara summit will be “one of the more important leaders’ summit in the history of Nato,” as the leaders will have to respond to Trump’s “disappointment” with the alliance’s “response to our operations in the Middle East.”“That will have to be addressed, that won’t be solved or addressed today. That’s something for the leaders level to discuss.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
