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Al Jazeera - Top Stories

2026-05-31 01:03:18 (1 week ago)

The world hit a 44-year high in executions

Governments around the world executed more people in 2025 than at any point since 1981.

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:02:39 (1 week ago)

Japan defence minister rebuffs claims of ‘new militarism’ levelled by China

Shinjiro Koizumi says Japan valued as a ‘peace-loving’ nation while China expands military capabilities ‘without sufficient transparency’

Japan’s defence minister took a veiled swipe at China on Sunday, pledging to keep strengthening the military despite Beijing’s criticism of Tokyo’s increasingly muscular security stance.

Under the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, Japan has quickened its pivot to a more proactive defence policy, further shaking off – with US encouragement – its pacifist outlook in place since the end of the second world war.

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:00:40 (1 week ago)

Skof, Manchester M4: ‘Proof that fine dining can be magical’ – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants

Clever, emotional – and well worth the hype

I couldn’t get a table at Skof for ages: it was too full, too booked up and far too busy. It seemed there’d be no lightly set miso custard with hen of the woods mushrooms and dashi for me. Jersey royals cooked in chicken fat with pickled walnuts? I’d only be able to admire those from afar. It was like catnip: in the spirit of Groucho Marx, I want to be inside any restaurant that doesn’t want me as a customer.

Skof opened in Manchester in May 2024 and by February last year already had a Michelin star, so it’s no wonder that, with only 36 seats, spaces evaporate rapidly. This capacious one-time drapery warehouse could easily accommodate two or even three times that number of covers, but Tom Barnes, formerly of L’Enclume in the Lake District, is not that sort of chef. His restaurant’s name comes from his dad, Barney, telling him rather unceremoniously as a child to “scoff” his dinner. What would Barney have made of his boy’s ornate, complex pre-dinner snacks of chalk stream trout and golden beetroot tartlet, or broad bean, pike roe and shiso on a Spenwood cheese biscuit? Both are hugely scoffable, incidentally. Barney, now deceased, is remembered at the end of every meal via his favourite tiramisu, of which more later.

Skof, like L’Enclume, is one of those intensely relaxed yet still ferociously fancy restaurants. Dress code is come as you are. Deodorant is a boon. As we ate, Aussie post-punk band Mental As Anything bled into Arctic Monkeys by way of Sam Fender, but then, bang, the first two courses proper arrived, each of them intricate and intentional: a soft, juicy Orkney scallop with barbecued kohlrabi and preserved tomato water, followed by that lightly set custard with truffle and mushroom dashi. Think of this custard as a quiche filling on steroids, and one that’s well worth garrotting people for in a buffet queue.

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:00:40 (1 week ago)

Badenoch-supporting US rapper Azealia Banks to attend Spectator summer party in London

Magazine’s editor Michael Gove will welcome performer who described Conservative party leader as ‘iconic’

The American rapper Azealia Banks said she had been invited to the Spectator magazine summer party in London.

The performer, known for her social media feuds with numerous celebrities including Nicki Minaj, Zayn Malik and Lana Del Rey, wrote on X on Saturday: “Ill be in London July 3 for @spectator.”

Her message received a response from Michael Gove, the Spectator editor and former Conservative cabinet minister, who replied: “Looking forward!”

The annual Spectator summer party is traditionally held in the garden behind the magazine’s offices in Westminster featuring prominent figures across UK politics, media and culture.

In May, Banks and fellow rapper Minaj publicly supported the Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch.

Banks wrote on X at the time: “Sorry i made fun of you guys in Britain, i rolled over and realized its actually no longer a laughing matter and I shouldnt be making jokes. I hope you all vote conservative and Listen to Kemi Badenoch.”

In a later post, the 32-year-old said of Badenoch: “She is a star.”

In April, Banks shared a clip of the Conservative leader speaking in the House of Commons on X, with the message: “Kemi Badenoch is f**king iconic. World leaders will respect her Professionalism alot more than goofball Nigel [Farage].”

The artist is known for her forthright political views and on Saturday posted a link to an article entitled “Congress advances unprecedented U.S.-Israel military integration plan” and wrote on X: WE WON!!!!! PULL OUT OF NATO NOW!”

The New York rapper won wide acclaim for her debut single 212 which appeared on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:00:39 (1 week ago)

‘One day I thought, that’s enough’: the people fighting back against pothole-riddled roads

The dire state of roads has provoked pothole vigilantes and become a political flashpoint from Manchester to Manhattan. How did we get here?

Sitting in St Albans crown court, waiting for his case to be called, Derek Bennett’s anger momentarily gave way to a sense of disbelief. “I mean, there’s rape and murder cases going on,” he says. “I couldn’t believe I was there, with this stupid subject.”

Initially, neither could the judge, whom Bennett says remarked that such issues were surely a matter for the magistrates. But Bennett, a 68-year-old construction consultant who has spent decades navigating building rules and regulations, had read the law carefully. Section 56 of the UK’s Highways Act 1980 clearly states the “highway authority or other person” responsible for a road in Britain is liable to maintain it, and should it fall into “disrepair”, a member of the public may apply for a crown court order to fix it. The other crimes would just have to wait. Bennett was here about potholes.

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:00:39 (1 week ago)

I feel a lot of affection for a friend at work – could I be in love? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

Would you want this to become sexual? If the answer is yes, then think about what might be holding you back

I don’t know whether I am in love with my friend or not. We hang out a lot, because we work together in the same university. My feelings developed over many months and it took us a long time to fit with each other as we do now. I don’t find him perfect; I sometimes don’t like his behaviour, especially when we are with other people. However, I want to be with him a lot: I imagine going on holiday with him and doing things together.

We do have physical contact sometimes – just things like touching arms. I appreciate that and have deep affection for him. So I wonder if this could be love or if I am mistaking great friendship with love just because he is a guy. I do not know whether he is a friend, almost like a brother, or more than that.

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:00:39 (1 week ago)

When will the EU punch its weight in a perilous world? That’s the question countries eager to join should be asking | Simon Tisdall

Twin threats from east and west have clearly made the bloc more appealing – but its rule-bound institutions need urgent attention

Giant butter mountains, wine lakes and an apocryphal EU ban on bendy bananas formed the mythological backdrop to Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum debacle. Yet while many Vote Leave claims were exaggerated, inaccurate or blatantly untrue, the EU’s capacity for laying itself open to ridicule is undiminished 10 years on. Take the strange case of the whingeing EU commissioners, annoyed that their officially provided electric vehicles cannot manage the time-consuming 280-mile journey between Brussels and Strasbourg without stopping to recharge.

This important issue, first reported by Politico, raises vital questions. Do these highly paid bureaucrats really need chauffeur-driven “company cars”? Surely they could catch a train, or fly, or cycle. EV use is mandatory for road trips. The vehicles are supplied in line with the EU’s Green Deal emissions-cutting policy, which commissioners might be expected to support, not carp about. So why is the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, allowed a petrol engine? The biggest question of all is why make these tedious Brussels-Strasbourg journeys in the first place?

Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator

The Guardian - World News

2026-05-31 01:00:39 (1 week ago)

‘The potential is huge’: Plymouth hopes defence money will have it sailing again

Local leaders are optimistic investment and regeneration plans will help make ‘ocean city’ an appealing place to live

Plymouth may only have been rebranded as “Britain’s ocean city” in recent years, but its role as a centre of UK defence can be traced back to the 16th century thanks to its strategic location on Devon’s south coast. Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth on his circumnavigation of the globe and it was here the Pilgrims finally departed England for America on board the Mayflower.

In more recent decades, a dependence on the defence sector no longer seemed an asset, as spending cuts and the loss of dockyard jobs forced the city with a proud maritime history to square up to a new foe: economic uncertainty.

Globo News - Mundo

2026-05-31 00:57:26 (1 week ago)

Trump diz que acordo com Irã está próximo, mas ameaça ação militar se não houver avanço: 'negociadores difíceis'

Trump diz que acordo com Irã está próximo, mas ameaça ação militar se não houver avanço Em entrevista à Fox News, o presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, afirmou que as negociações com o Irã para encerrar a guerra estão “muito perto de um acordo muito bom”. O trecho foi divulgado pelo perfil da Casa Branca na rede social X (antigo Twitter). Ele ressaltou, porém, que caso não haja entendimento, os EUA podem “terminar militarmente”, o que, segundo ele, seria “mais rápido”. Porém, o acordo é, em parte, motivado por uma visão humanitária. "Você salva muitas vidas. Seja do outro lado ou não, você salva muitas vidas", afirmou Trump. Baixe o GloboPop para assistir a vídeos curtos verticais da Globo O presidente comparou com operações anteriores, citando a Venezuela como uma "vitória de um dia", e afirmou que o exército iraniano já está, essencialmente, derrotado. Para Trump, um dos benefícios do acordo seria a abertura imediata do Estreito de Ormuz. "Eu preferiria conseguir um acordo porque podemos abrir o estreito imediatamente após a assinatura", disse. O presidente americano afirmou que "a única garantia" que ele tem é que não haverá armas nucleares: "Eles concordaram com isso e foi muito interessante". "Estamos conseguindo o que queremos lentamente. Negociadores muito difíceis. Leva muito tempo", disse Trump. O presidente dos EUA, Donald Trump, aponta o dedo durante uma reunião de gabinete na Sala do Gabinete da Casa Branca, em Washington, DC, EUA, em 27 de maio de 2026 REUTERS/Evan Vucci O republicano afirmou que "gostaria de dizer que está com pressa (para um acordo)", pois assim o preço da gasolina despencaria. Mas que "se você estiver com pressa, não vai fazer um bom negócio". "Lenta mas seguramente, estamos conseguindo, eu acho, o que queremos. E se não conseguirmos o que queremos, vamos acabar com isso de uma forma diferente", concluiu o presidente. Neste sábado (30), o secretário de Defesa americano e chefe do Pentágono, Pete Hegseth disse que EUA estão prontos para retomar ataques ao Irã se não houver acordo. “Nossa capacidade de retomar [os ataques], se necessário... somos mais do que capazes”, disse Hegseth em Singapura. “Nossos estoques estão mais do que adequados para isso, tanto ali quanto ao redor do mundo, então estamos em uma posição muito boa”, acrescentou. A Guarda Revolucionária Islâmica do Irã (IRGC) disse que interceptou e destruiu um drone americano MQ-1 na madrugada deste domingo (31), após este ter entrado em águas territoriais iranianas com intenções hostis. Os EUA não comentaram sobre o ocorrido. O chefe do Pentágono disse ainda que o presidente Donald Trump está sendo “paciente” e quer fechar um “grande acordo” que garanta que o Irã não obtenha uma arma nuclear. Na sexta-feira (29), Trump afirmou que se reuniria em uma sala segura da Casa Branca para tomar uma “decisão final” sobre uma proposta para encerrar a guerra com o Irã. A proposta prevê a extensão de uma trégua iniciada no começo de abril por mais 60 dias, dando tempo para os negociadores buscarem um acordo permanente para o conflito. A guerra iniciada pelos Estados Unidos e Israel em 28 de fevereiro matou milhares de pessoas, principalmente no Irã e no Líbano, e provocou impactos na economia global ao elevar os preços da energia devido ao fechamento efetivo do Estreito de Ormuz pelo Irã. Avanço de Israel no Líbano em meio a negociações Exército de Israel anunciou neste domingo (31) que sua operação terrestre contra o Hezbollah 'se expande a outras zonas' do Líbano. Segundo comunicado publicado na rede social X, as forças armadas “cruzaram o rio Litani e ampliaram suas operações contra objetivos do Hezbollah ao norte do rio. A operação se expande a outras zonas”. Este avanço marca uma intensificação significativa do conflito, já que o rio Litani tem sido considerado historicamente uma linha de contenção para operações militares israelenses no Líbano. Durante o avanço das tropas, Israel comunicou que capturou castelo estratégico no Líbano na incursão mais profunda em 26 anos. Na manhã deste sábado (30), o exército israelense alertou os habitantes de mais de uma dezena de vilarejos libaneses para que deixassem suas casas antes dos ataques. Os bombardeios atingiram várias localidades do sul, segundo a Agência Nacional de Informação libanesa (Ani, oficial). O exército libanês informou que um ataque de drone israelense “direcionado” atingiu e feriu gravemente dois de seus soldados, que estavam em um veículo, perto da cidade meridional de Nabatieh. Disparos de artilharia também ocorreram perto da fortaleza medieval de Beaufort. Na véspera, o ministro da Cultura libanês havia alertado para o “grave perigo” que os ataques israelenses representam ao patrimônio histórico do país. O Hezbollah, por sua vez, reivindicou o lançamento de foguetes em direção ao norte de Israel. O exército israelense afirmou ter interceptado vários projéteis, com exceção de um foguete que caiu em seu território, sem deixar feridos.

RT News - Top Stories

2026-05-31 00:57:10 (1 week ago)

Trump pushes for last-minute changes to Iran peace draft – media

US President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered last-minute revisions to the Iran peace roadmap, demanding stronger nuclear concessions
Read Full Article at RT.com

France 24 - World News

2026-05-31 00:55:14 (1 week ago)

Wembanyama eyes 'childhood dream' after Spurs stun Thunder

Victor Wembanyama is within sight of realizing a lifelong dream after helping the San Antonio Spurs battle past the Oklahoma City Thunder to set up an NBA Finals showdown with the New York Knicks on Saturday.

France 24 - World News

2026-05-31 00:55:14 (1 week ago)

Wembanyama within sight of 'childhood dream' after Spurs stun Thunder

French basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama is within sight of realizing a lifelong dream after the San Antonio Spurs stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, making their way to the upcoming NBA Finals showdown with the New York Knicks. The win marked another dazzling milestone on Wembanyama's rise as the new face of the NBA.