US is ‘using Mexico as a garbage sink’ leading to ‘toxic crisis’, UN expert says 07. April 2026 (12:00) Marcos Orellana, a special rapporteur, found lax environmental standards and lack of oversight allowed pollution to accumulateMexico is facing a “toxic crisis” and has become a “garbage sink” for the US, exposing Mexican communities to dangerous pollution, a UN expert has warned.In an interview with the Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab, an investigative outlet, Marcos Orellana, an environmental specialist, said pollutants ranging from imported waste to dangerous pesticides are affecting people’s right to live healthy lives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Resident doctors begin longest strike yet as Streeting accuses BMA of hypocrisy over pay – UK politics live 07. April 2026 (11:52) The health secretary and the BMA trade accusations over who bears responsibility for the collapse of talksIn his interviews this morning, Wes Streeting also joined those criticising Wireless festival for its decision to invite Kanye West to peform.Streeting told the Today programme that, given West’s history of antisemitic and pro-Hitler comments, the decision was inexplicable.I cannot for the life of me understand why Wireless still have him as a headliner.There are plenty of other talented artists in this country, let alone internationally, who would benefit from the exposure and who in turn would help drive ticket sales.When Kanye West uses bipolar disorder to justify his actions, I think that is equally appalling, by the way.I would ask people to consider, does using bipolar disorder as an excuse to write and release a song called Heil Hitler and plaster it across T-shirts, does bipolar disorder really justify that? Or is it an excuse to justify rotten behaviour? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK government caps student loan interest rates at 6% 07. April 2026 (11:50) Minister says change for plan 2 and 3 loans in England and Wales will ‘protect borrowers’ from impact of global conflictUK politics live – latest updatesThe interest rate on plan 2 and plan 3 student loans will be capped at 6%, the Department for Education has announced.Graduates with plan 2 loans currently pay interest rates based on the retail price index (RPI) measure of inflation, plus up to 3% based on their earnings. Current students on plan 2 and plan 3 loans attract an interest rate of RPI +3% while they are studying. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform UK would stop visas for people from countries seeking slavery reparations 07. April 2026 (11:49) The ‘bank is closed and the door is locked’, says Zia Yusuf as calls grow for compensation to remedy historical wrongsReform UK would stop issuing visas to people from any country that continues to demand compensation from the UK for its role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people, the party has said.Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, told the Daily Telegraph that the call for reparations was “insulting”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hungary’s foreign minister says JD Vance’s visit signals ‘golden age’ of Hungarian-US relations – Europe live 07. April 2026 (11:39) Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar responds to JD Vance’s visit by saying ‘no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections’ … and here they are!JD Vance and Usha Vance off the Air Force Two, welcomed by Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó as they begin their two-day trip to the Hungarian capital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oil prices seesaw after Trump says Iran can be ‘taken out’ in one night 07. April 2026 (11:32) Mixed stock market reaction to president’s comments, while IMF chief warns of inflation and slower growthBusiness live – latest updatesOil traded at more than $110 a barrel on Tuesday, before dipping in volatile trading, after Donald Trump said all of Iran could be “taken out” in one night.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, rose by 1% to $111 a barrel, before slipping back to $109.40 as traders watched for developments in the Middle East. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
