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Alex Younger, former head of MI6, dies aged 62

Keir Starmer says Younger led an ‘exemplary life’, while foreign secretary says country owes him ‘an enormous debt of gratitude’ Alex Younger, the former head of MI6, has died at the age of 62 after being treated for cancer. Younger led the Secret Intelligence Service, the agency also known as MI6, between 2014 and 2020. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MBo2HmG

Labour figures who wrote competing ‘manifestos’ join forces to warn against tribalism

Mathew Lawrence and Mark McVitie, previously seen as favouring Burnham and Streeting respectively, say change of direction is needed UK politics live – latest updates Two of Labour’s leading policy figures, who put forward “manifestos” for Andy Burnham and a centrist grouping, are to join forces to help forge new ideas for a future government. The authors of the two essays – which have previously been described as competing visions for a Burnham- or Wes Streeting-led government – said Labour urgently required a serious intellectual debate about its direction rather than simply a change of personality. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/RETGcg1

Trump administration proposes 25% tariffs on Brazil despite US trade surplus

US claims world’s 10th-biggest economy engages in ‘unreasonable’ trade practices that ‘restrict US commerce’ Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The Trump administration proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil , charging that the world’s 10th-biggest economy engages in trade practices that are “unreasonable’’ and that “burden or restrict US commerce”. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he received the decision “with indignation”. The Brazil president also blamed the decision by the US administration on his rival in October’s elections, Flávio Bolsonaro , the senator who visited Washington last week. The senator is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, once nicknamed “the Trump of the Tropics” by his allies. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jVpvc4W

Taylor Swift announces new single for Toy Story 5 soundtrack

I Knew It, I Knew You is written with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff and marks a return to Swift’s country roots After days of speculation online, Taylor Swift has announced the release of a new original song for Toy Story 5. Titled I Knew It, I Knew You, the single will be released on 5 June, with CD singles available for preorder on Swift’s website. Three variants will be available, each containing different versions of the song: a piano version, an acoustic version and the original. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wP0faM1

US strike on alleged drug boat kills three in eastern Pacific

Attack comes after Friday’s strike that killed three men as well, pushing death toll to more than 200 since last year The US military said on Saturday it had carried out a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific killing three men, the second strike in as many days. Officials with the US Southern Command said in a post on X that intelligence had confirmed that the vessel was transiting along “narco-trafficking” routes in the eastern Pacific and engaged in “narco-trafficking” operations. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cwlQeDy

Family visitation partly restored at New Jersey ICE facility after week of protests

Visits were canceled after detainees began hunger strike, which prompted heated protests outside detention center Family visitation at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center is being restored to at least part of the facility, New Jersey’s governor and US homeland security officials confirmed on Sunday morning, after a week during which heated demonstrations at the site were met with aggressive policing tactics. Meanwhile, families of detained immigrants grappled with conflicting information about exactly whom among them would get visitation after the announcement from governor Mikie Sherrill and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). And local officials by Sunday had also indefinitely imposed an overnight curfew beginning at 9pm for a blocked-off area including Delaney Hall. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/VKkreoZ

Pantries can be time machines. An expired tin of lychees moved house with us – twice

As a child, I didn’t understand the ancient food decaying in my grandmother’s cupboard. Now I’m beginning to “This oregano is best before 1985!” my sister cries, adding it to the pile on the laminate bench. It’s Hervey Bay circa 1991. My family is staying in Gran’s retirement villa, my sisters and I on camp stretchers in the garage. A single pedestal fan brings short bursts of breeze, rotating relief from the December heat. The town is not yet on the backpacker circuit. There aren’t any cafes, shops or streaming services, and there are only so many games of Scrabble we can take. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/DQlrVRk