Leading challenger to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer quits government
London (CNN) — Wes Streeting has resigned as Britain’s health secretary, saying Thursday that he has “lost confidence” in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership and that it would be “dishonourable and unprincipled” to remain in his government. The move comes after days of speculation about whether Streeting would formally challenge Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party. In his letter to the prime minister, Streeting announced his resignation from government, but did not say that he was launching a leadership contest. In order to trigger that contest, Streeting needs to gain the support of one fifth of Labour’s members of parliament (MPs) – at present, 81 lawmakers. Starmer has been facing a revolt in his Labour Party since it suffered a drubbing in local elections in England and parliament in Scotland and Wales last week, which has spurred nearly 90 Labour lawmakers to publicly call for Starmer to resign. Streeting is the first member of Starmer’s government to resign since the mutiny began. In his letter, Streeting said last week’s elections had put “nationalists in power in every corner” of the country, which he said could threaten the breakup of the United Kingdom. He said that progressive voters were “losing faith” in the Labour Party, citing Starmer’s missteps which he said had “left the country not knowing who we are or what we really stand for.”
Iranians on edge as threat of resumption of war looms
Editor’s note: EDITOR’S NOTE: CNN is operating in Iran with the permission of the Iranian government, as required under local regulations. CNN maintains full editorial control over what it reports. The Iranian government does not review, approve, or preview CNN’s reporting prior to publication or broadcast.
Near Tabriz (CNN) — Flanked by glistening, snow-capped peaks, the long road to Tehran winds through picturesque valleys of Tabrizi poplar trees and fields with green shoots of wheat. We trace the narrow Qotur river, brown and swollen from the spring thaw, as it surges past shepherds grazing their shaggy flocks on the slopes. In the distance, an impressive railway bridge, its steel girders painted bright white, stretches across the shimmering landscape, apparently untouched by the US and Israeli strikes that battered and scarred parts of Iran earlier this year. But amid stalled peace negotiations and growing tensions over the continued closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, fears that the war could flare again are fueling a sense of disquiet in the country. On CNN’s trip across the country, ordinary Iranians — whom Trump once exhorted to “take back your country” — described life under bombardment and blockade. “Don’t go to there, it’s far too dangerous now,” one young Iranian woman traveling from the United States to Tehran advised when she learned of our shared journey through northwestern Iran. Though likely exacerbated by the recent US naval blockade of Iran, cost of living issues underpinned nationwide anti-government protests that began late last year – leading to a ruthless crackdown. Thousands were killed in the state’s response to demonstrations, Iranian authorities have admitted.Iranians have repeatedly shown the will to stand up, often at great cost, in the face of overwhelming force. But today, the US war with Iran, which Trump in the early days called his “little excursion,” is clearly taking a toll on the Iranian people as they struggle to make it from day to day and brace for possible strikes to begin again. “Trump’s war has silenced people, and made the Iranian government stronger. At least for now,” an Iranian man said.
Shakira, Madonna and BTS to headline 2026 World Cup Final halftime show
(CNN) — Shakira, Madonna and K-pop superstars BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, FIFA announced in an Instagram post on Thursday. The World Cup Final is set for July 19 at New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium and is expected to draw millions of viewers worldwide on top of its attendees. World Cup 2026 kicks off June 11 in Mexico City with matches to be played in multiple locations across the US, Canada and Mexico. The final halftime, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will be produced by the non-profit Global Citizen and benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, FIFA said. The fund is “a landmark initiative working to raise $100 USD million to expand access to quality education and football for children around the world,” FIFA wrote in the announcement. “Throughout the tournament, USD $1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches will be donated to the Fund.” In an announcement video posted to social media, Martin was joined by characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets, with a cameo from BTS.
GOP centrists defy Trump, force future House vote on major Russian sanctions bill
(CNN) — A small bloc of GOP lawmakers defied their leadership — and President Donald Trump — by forcing the House to soon take up a major bill to deliver US military support to Ukraine while imposing steep sanctions on Russia. The GOP-led House is now on track to vote in early June on Congress’ first major pro-Ukraine measure of Trump’s second term, in a rebuke of his handling of the conflict there. With Trump’s foreign policy focus squarely on Iran in recent months, Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine has continued with little US involvement. Trump has made no tangible progress in his vow to quickly end the conflict upon taking office. And in one recent instance, the president aggravated some members of his party by loosening restrictions on Russian oil to lessen the global price impact of the US war in Iran. The vote on new Russian sanctions, expected shortly after the House’s Memorial Day recess, is likely to be a major headache for Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team in an already difficult political environment where vulnerable lawmakers are eager for the party to address prices at home, rather than weigh in on another global conflict. It’s not yet clear, however, if GOP leaders will whip against the bill nor whether the White House will attempt to quash the effort, which comes as party leaders are separately attempting to pass a major immigration funding package with little room for error on the floor. Multiple GOP and Democratic sources predicted the Ukraine bill would pass in the House, but added its fate is uncertain in the Senate. There’s also new military support for Ukraine, including authorizing $8 billion for arms sales, and an extension of the Biden-era military lend-lease program.
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