Farage’s attempt to get ahead of £5m gift story only raises more questions 29. April 2026 (18:03) Reform leader went public after approach from Guardian, but does his claim stack up that money was for his security?Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024Nigel Farage has admitted he received a personal gift of £5m from the Reform UK mega-donor Christopher Harborne shortly before the general election in 2024.He did not disclose that gift at the time. And he made no mention of it in the year since. That is, until Wednesday morning, when the Daily Telegraph published a story in which Farage admitted receiving the money from Harborne – saying it was for his personal security. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court ‘demolishes’ Voting Rights Act, gutting provision that prevented racial discrimination 29. April 2026 (17:56) Justices rule in landmark decision Louisiana will have to redraw congressional map, largely killing major civil rights lawUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe US supreme court has ruled that Louisiana will have to redraw its congressional map, in a landmark decision that effectively guts a major section of the Voting Rights Act.In a 6-3 decision along partisan lines, the court rendered ineffective section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the last remaining powerful provision of the 1965 civil rights law that prevents racial discrimination in voting. Section 2 specifically has long been used to ensure minority voters are treated fairly in redistricting Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands of US hockey fans sing Canadian anthem amid tensions between neighbor countries 29. April 2026 (17:40) Fans in Buffalo, only a few miles from Ontario, filled the silence when a microphone cut out at the start of a matchThe Electric City. Nickle City. Queen City. City of No Illusions.Buffalo, New York, has accrued many nicknames over the years but, in an age of growing tensions between two traditional allies, one among them has taken on extra resonance: the City of Good Neighbors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Camp Mystic director says ‘we tried our hardest’ in deadly flood: ‘It wasn’t enough to save your daughters’ 29. April 2026 (17:38) Tearful testimony details missed warnings and lack of plan as families oppose reopening of Texas campA director of Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian camp in the Texas Hill Country where 25 campers and two counselors were killed in a flash flood last summer, has offered a tearful apology to victim’s families for the loss of life.“We tried our hardest that night. It wasn’t enough to save your daughters,” Edward Eastland said, at a joint Texas House and Senate committee panel in Austin investigating the deadly flooding. “I’m so sorry.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gordon Brown says he queried Andrew’s ‘unacceptable costs’ as trade envoy 29. April 2026 (17:30) Brown calls for police to look into former prince’s use of public funds and says he had colleague raise issue in 2008Gordon Brown has revealed he ordered that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be questioned about incurring “unacceptable costs” as a trade envoy in 2008, as he called for the police to widen their inquiry to include the use of public funds.The former prime minister said he asked a colleague from the business department to question Mountbatten-Windsor about his travel expenses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Maryland becomes first state to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores 29. April 2026 (17:05) Critics say Maryland’s new law banning rapidly change product costs based on consumer data is full of carveoutsMaryland has become the first state in the US to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores.Maryland’s law bans grocers and third-party delivery services from using a person’s personal data to set higher prices. Wes Moore, the governor, signed the measure into law on Tuesday. “At a time when technology can predict what we need, when we need it, when we’ll pay for it and also – when we’ll pay more for it, and at a time when we’re watching how big companies are then using these analytics against us to make record profits, Maryland is not just pushing back. Maryland is pushing forward because we are going to protect our people,” Moore said at the bill signing ceremony. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guardian Essential poll: Australians want higher tax on gas exports and extension of petrol excise cut 29. April 2026 (17:00) The fuel crisis is seeing more voters keen to shift to renewable energy rather than stick with fossil fuelsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA majority of Australians support taxing profits from gas exports and extending the cut to the fuel excise, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll, despite Anthony Albanese on Wednesday ruling out a new tax on existing gas export contracts.The poll also found the fuel crisis is seeing more voters keen to shift to renewable energy rather than stick with fossil fuels. Australians also say they’re already cutting back on travel, switching to public transport and reducing their use of aircon and heating amid the global fuel uncertainty. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pam Bondi to appear before House oversight panel over Epstein files 29. April 2026 (16:46) Democrats had filed civil contempt resolution against former attorney general for not appearing for depositionUS politics live – latest updatesThe House oversight and government reform committee has said that former attorney general Pam Bondi will now appear before the panel on 29 May to answer questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its release of the Epstein files.The announcement of the date came shortly after the Democrats on the committee announced that they had filed a civil contempt resolution against Bondi after she did not appear for her deposition earlier this month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Britain to create joint naval force with nine European countries as ‘complement’ to Nato 29. April 2026 (16:32) Royal Navy chief says unified naval force will deter future Russian threats from the ‘open sea border’ to the northBritain has agreed to create a unified naval force with nine European countries to deter future Russian threats from the “open sea border” to the north, the head of the Royal Navy has announced.Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins said that despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, where the strait of Hormuz remains closed after the US-Israeli war in Iran, “Russia remains the gravest threat to our security”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The little-known clause that Europe’s security may now depend on 29. April 2026 (16:30) Article 42.7 had languished in obscurity for decades – until Donald Trump began casting doubt on US commitment to Nato• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereMost people have heard of Nato’s article 5. The “one for all, all for one” clause states an armed attack on one member country should be considered an attack on all, requiring member states to come to the victim’s aid – including with “the use of armed force”.Not so many, till this week, had heard of the EU’s own mutual defence clause, article 42.7 (pdf), which says that if a member state comes under armed attack, the others “shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power”. That’s perhaps because there hadn’t, until recently, been much need for Europeans to consult article 42.7. More than 40 US military bases and 85,000 troops across the EU (and UK) were testament to Washington’s defence commitment to the old continent. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
