The Guardian

Polls close in Makerfield byelection as Andy Burnham eyes No 10

Labour’s Greater Manchester mayor predicted to beat Reform but Keir Starmer is unlikely to easily step asideMakerfield byelection – latest updatesPolls have closed in Makerfield, Aberdeen South, and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, with the result in the north-west of England constituency byelection poised to decide the future of UK politics.The population of Makerfield, a constituency sitting just outside Wigan, has found itself at the centre of the British political world in recent weeks after And

general  Jun 18, 2026

NY Times World

Fallout From the Iran Deal

Trump’s agreement reads like a list of concessions to Iran. Will it damage him politically?

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Trump administration compares reflecting pool algae battle to Iran war

Interior department insists water at Washington landmark is ‘crystal clear’ as witnesses report murky green poolUS federal government workers continue take on the green hue that has swept across Washington’s reflecting pool, an increasingly fiendish battle the Trump administration compared to its war with Iran.After Donald Trump ordered a $14.2m refurbishment to turn the monument “American Flag blue” in time for the country’s 250th birthday celebrations, the administration encountered a formidab

general  Jun 18, 2026

NY Times World

Vance Lashes Out at Israeli Critics of U.S.-Iran Agreement to End the War

The vice president said that the United States was the only powerful ally Israel had left and noted that two-thirds of the weapons that protected Israel were paid for by U.S. tax dollars.

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Iranian star Parastoo Ahmadi reportedly sentenced to 74 lashes for singing without hijab

Musicians and production team understood to be facing same punishment after livestream of patriotic songThe Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of a production team, including musicians, have been reportedly sentenced to 74 lashes for performing in a concert livestreamed on Ahmadi’s YouTube channel in 2024.According to court documents, the criminal court of Qom province sentenced the artists to flogging, a two-year ban on leaving the country and a two-year ban on engaging in artisti

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

News live: Australia gives Ukraine another $100m for fight against Russia; AFL great in hospital after truck crash

Two payments of $50m will boost Ukraine’s air defence and munitions supply. Follow today’s news live• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.Jim Chalmers has defended the government’s changes to its controversial capital gains tax reforms and rejected claims it amounted to a backflip forced by business interests. More follows soon

general  Jun 18, 2026

WSJ World News

ICC Sets July Vote on Removing Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan

The International Criminal Court set a July 24 vote on removing chief prosecutor Karim Khan, after an oversight body found sexual-assault accusations against him were credible.

general  Jun 18, 2026

BBC World

'Living celebration of community': Obamas open presidential centre in Chicago

The campus opens to the public this weekend with a museum, community amenities and more to honour the 44th US president.

general  Jun 18, 2026

BBC World

US lifts naval blockade as Iran's supreme leader says Trump made deal 'out of desperation'

Iran's supreme leader says he disagrees with the deal and Donald Trump signed it "out of desperation".

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Gas prices fall below $4 on average after Trump’s signing of Iran deal to end war

Drivers feel some relief but prices still a dollar more per gallon overall since before US-Israel attack on IranSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The average price of US gasoline fell to just under $4 a gallon on Thursday for the first time since March, following the announcement of a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran to end the war and reopen the strait of Hormuz.The development has provided some relief to drivers who have seen soaring costs amid Washington’s war wit

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Trump administration reverses decision to scrap ocean monitoring system

Move to dismantle $368m sea observatory initiative faced opposition from experts and lawmakersThe Donald Trump administration has reversed its decision to dismantle a $368m deep-sea observation system following an outcry from lawmakers and ocean experts.On Thursday, the National Science Foundation announced that it would halt plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, stating: “effective immediately, [it] will not proceed with further removal or descoping of equipment from the remain

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George to be next mayor of Washington DC

City councillor who ran on expanding childcare, education and housing slated for office after opponent concedesDemocratic socialist Janeese Lewis George is slated to be the next mayor of Washington DC after her opponent conceded on Thursday.Lewis George, a city council member, ran on a platform of expanding childcare, education and housing, and revoking the district’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Continue reading...

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Naomi Campbell called unfit to run a charity in her appeal against ban

Supermodel ‘completely abdicated’ her trustee responsibilities at Fashion for Relief, Charity Commission tells hearingNaomi Campbell showed herself to be unfit to run a charity after the supermodel “completely abdicated” her responsibilities as a trustee of her now defunct Fashion for Relief project, according to the charity watchdog.The Charity Commission told a tribunal that Campbell, who is trying to overturn a five-year ban on running a charity, was “highly culpable” for mismanagement and mi

general  Jun 18, 2026

Washington Post World

First steps in peace deal demand far more from U.S. than Iran

The memorandum of understanding requires numerous steps by Washington including lifting sanctions and freeing billions in frozen assets, while Iran was required only to open the Strait of Hormuz.

general  Jun 18, 2026

BBC World

Parents of Serbia's teenage school shooter given jail terms in retrial

The boy was 13 when he killed eight girls, a boy and a school guard at Vladislav Ribnikar school in Belgrade in 2023.

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

BBC pulls Ashley Cain documentary over abusive and misogynistic remarks

BBC says its vetting process ‘clearly failed’ after Guardian reveals presenter’s past comments about womenWarning: this article contains sexually explicit, offensive languageThe BBC has pulled a documentary series with its controversial presenter Ashley Cain after revelations over his history of abusive and misogynistic comments about women.In a statement late on Thursday, the BBC said its vetting requirements had “clearly failed” in the case of Cain, who was lauded by executives at the corporat

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Lib Dem MP Cameron Thomas suspended amid police investigation

MP for Tewkesbury understood to have been arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday nightA Liberal Democrat MP has had the whip suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation, a party spokesperson said.Cameron Thomas was arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday night, it is understood. His office has been contacted for comment. Continue reading...

general  Jun 18, 2026

NY Times World

Gunmen Attack a Major Airport in Niger

An early morning assault on Niamey airport was the second such attack in the West African country this year.

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Teenager wrongly arrested wins race discrimination claim against the Met

Daryl McLune was 16 when he was held for 23 hours on suspicion of attempting to murder his mother after she tried to take her own lifeA teenager who was wrongly arrested for the attempted murder of his mother minutes after she had tried to kill herself has won a race discrimination claim against the Metropolitan police.A jury found that the Met discriminated against Daryl McLune, who was 16 at the time, because he was black. Continue reading...

general  Jun 18, 2026

The Guardian

Pete Hegseth accuses Nato countries of ‘free riding’ in combative address

US defence secretary addresses allies in latest attempt to get Europe to raise military budgetsPete Hegseth has announced a review of US military presence across Europe, in a combative address to Nato allies where he threatened to cut force numbers in countries spending the least on defence.The US defence secretary, speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, accused some countries of “free riding” and others of being shameful for not allowing their airbases to be used by US jet

general  Jun 18, 2026