Heatwaves, floods and wildfires pose rising threat to democracy, report finds

Democracy is under mounting threat from the climate crisis, with new analysis documenting how elections are increasingly shaped not only by political forces but also by floods, wildfires and extreme weather. At least 94 elections and referendums across 52 countries have been disrupted by climate-related impacts over the last two decades, researchers found. As risks

Starmer sends ‘chill’ through civil service, union boss says

2 hours ago Chris Mason Political editor Getty Images The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is being accused of sending a "real chill throughout the civil service" after his decision to sack the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office over the Lord Peter Mandelson vetting fiasco. Sir Olly Robbins, who gave evidence to the

Sacked civil servant to give evidence in Mandelson vetting row

1 hour ago Chris Mason, Political editor and Nick Eardley, Political correspondent Getty The former lead civil servant at the Foreign Office, sacked by the prime minister and foreign secretary last week, will give his side of the story in Parliament this morning. Sir Olly Robbins, who had been the permanent under secretary at the

Madagascar arrests deepen Gen Z fears about new regime

The arrest of several protesters in Madagascar has increased fears among young people that the military regime that took power last year after huge Gen Z demonstrations will be no better than the government it overthrew. Four Gen Z activists, Herizo Andriamanantena, Miora Rakotomalala, Dina Randrianarisoa and Nomena Ratsihorimanana, were arrested on 12 April, one

Iran will not cede control of Strait of Hormuz

10 hours ago Lyse Doucet Chief international correspondent, Tehran BBC "Never." That's when a senior Iranian lawmaker says they'll be ready to give up their control of the Strait of Hormuz. "It's our inalienable right," Ebrahim Azizi, a former commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), tells the BBC in Tehran. "Iran will decide

Kenyan firm sacks more than 1,000 workers after losing Meta contract

More than 1,000 low-paid workers in Kenya have been abruptly sacked by an outsourcing company contracted by Meta, in what activists said was a shocking move exposing the precariousness of tech jobs in the global south. Sama, a company based in Nairobi to which Meta outsourced content moderation and AI training work, announced on Thursday

Foreign secretary concerned ministers not told of Mandelson vetting fears sooner

Reuters Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she is "extremely concerned" ministers were not told sooner about issues raised in the vetting process to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign from opposition parties and is due to answer questions on the scandal in Parliament on

Kenyan firm sacks more than 1,000 workers after losing Meta contract

More than 1,000 low-paid workers in Kenya have been abruptly sacked by an outsourcing company contracted by Meta, in what activists said was a shocking move exposing the precariousness of tech jobs in the global south. Sama, a company based in Nairobi to which Meta outsourced content moderation and AI training work, announced on Thursday

‘Staggering’ I was not told Mandelson failed vetting, says Starmer

7 hours ago Jennifer McKiernan, Political reporter and Jack Fenwick, Political correspondent BBC Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Paris for talks on the Iran war Sir Keir Starmer has said it's "staggering" that he, as prime minister, was not told about Lord Peter Mandelson failing to pass initial security vetting checks. The prime
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