Britain's next prime minister, Keir Starmer, promised change early on Friday (July 5), as the Conservatives' Rishi Sunak conceded defeat, with Starmer's center-left Labour Party on course to win a huge majority in the country's parliamentary elections.

London

Coverage of the United Kingdom's General Election 2024.

UK General Election

Britain's Labour Party has secured a significant victory in the country's latest parliamentary elections, unseating the Conservative government after 14 years. Keir Starmer, the incoming Prime Minister and leader of the centre-left Labour Party, promised a new beginning for the nation in his victory speech. Starmer emphasized the end of the chaos and the beginning of national renewal as Labour was predicted to win nearly two-thirds of the 650 seats in Parliament.

The outgoing Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat, acknowledging the party's historical low performance, with forecasts suggesting they would win only about 130 seats. Despite the defeat, Sunak retained his seat in Parliament and expressed confidence in the country's stability during the peaceful transfer of power.

A notable development in the election was the rise of the right-wing populist Reform UK Party, led by Nigel Farage. After multiple failed attempts, Farage finally won a seat in Parliament, with his party securing a total of four seats and, in some areas, surpassing the Conservative vote count. This surge mirrors recent populist movements across Europe but stands in contrast to the overall victory for the centre-left in the UK.

Starmer now faces significant challenges, including addressing the economic slowdown, improving public services, and reversing declining living standards. The Labour Party's win, driven by voter dissatisfaction with the cost-of-living crisis and political instability, marks a new chapter for the UK.



U.K.'s Starmer vows change as Labour sweeps to power

You fought for it. You voted for it. And now it has arrived. Change begins now. Britain's Labour Party won by a landslide in the country's parliamentary elections early on Friday, booting out the Conservative-led government after 14 years in power. Incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke of new beginnings in his victory speech. We said we would end the chaos, and we will. We said we would turn the page, and we have. Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal, and start to rebuild our country. Labour voters cheered as the party was projected to capture nearly two-thirds of the 650 seats in Parliament. But Starmer comes to power facing a sluggish economy, creaking public services and falling living standards. All of that played a part in the Conservatives' demise, with voters punishing them for a cost-of-living crisis, as well as years of instability and infighting that saw five different prime ministers in office since the Brexit vote of 2016. The Conservatives were forecast to win just about 130 seats, the worst election performance in the party's history. Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded Conservative defeat Friday morning, though he managed to keep his own seat in Parliament. Today power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country's stability and future. The Conservatives also took a hit from the rise of the right-wing populist Reform UK Party. Reform leader and Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage finally won a seat in Parliament after seven failed attempts over the years. His party captured four seats in total, and in parts of the country, they won more votes than the Conservatives. The surge in support for a populist alternative echoed similar results in Europe recently. But unlike France, where the far-right National Rally Party made historic gains in last Sunday's first-round elections, overall, the British public has thrown their weight behind a centre-left party to bring about change.

Russia blasted the main children's hospital in Kyiv with a missile in broad daylight on Monday and rained missiles down on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 36 civilians in the deadliest wave of air strikes for months.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russian missile attack kills at least 36, Ukraine says

The NATO summit in Washington D.C. was meant to highlight American leadership and the rejuvenation of the 75-year-old defense pact. But all that was thrown into doubt amid questions of Biden's ability to hold the White House against a challenge from former president Donald Trump.

Washington

Specter of Trump looms over NATO summit

Last month was the hottest June on record, the EU's climate change monitoring service said, continuing a streak of exceptional temperatures that some scientists said puts 2024 on track to be the world's hottest recorded year.

Brussels

2024 could be world's hottest year as June breaks records

At least 28 people have died in a series of missile strikes on five Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. The UN and international leaders have condemned what is the deadliest attack since the war began.

Russia hits five Ukrainian cities in daytime missile strike

U.S. President Joe Biden has been campaigning in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania, where he focused his attention and message on African American voters. Biden reaffirmed his intention to run for the White House.

Philadelphia

U.S. Presidential Election

Biden jokes about age on campaign trail

Boeing has accepted a plea deal on a criminal fraud charge related to two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jets. The justice department found Boeing guilty of violating a settlement, in which the company avoided criminal charges.

Boeing to plead guilty to fraud after two fatal 737 crashes

Last month was the hottest June on record, the EU's climate change monitoring service says, continuing a streak of exceptional temperatures that some scientists said puts 2024 on track to be the world's hottest recorded year.

Climate Crisis

June breaks records for being the hottest ever

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has questioned Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's ability to lead the nation, slamming his stance on immigration and multiculturalism. It comes as John Howard backs the Coalition's nuclear energy plan.

Canberra

Turnbull slams 'thug' Dutton as unfit to lead

Tropical storm Beryl is regaining strength and expected to hit Texas as a hurricane in the coming days, bringing powerful winds, heavy rain and large storm surges.

Houston

Hurricane Beryl

Tropical storm Beryl regaining strength as it approaches Texas

An early lead in second-round election polls for France’s left-wing alliance garnered shock and relief as it appeared to be an upset over far-right rivals that led after the first round of voting.

Paris

France snap election

French voters back leftists, reject far right

France was on course for a hung parliament in Sunday's election, with a leftist alliance unexpectedly taking the top spot ahead of the far right. The major upset was set to bar Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) from running the government.

Macron celebrates as far-right alliance faces defeat

France votes in the second round of legislative polls called by Macron after his centrist alliance's defeat in EU elections.

Voters turn out in numbers as France casts ballots in key run-off

Polling stations opened across France on Sunday morning in a second-round vote that could see the country heading for a chaotic hung parliament or its first far-right government since World War Two.

France votes as the far-right seeks power

A Sydney house fire has resulted in the tragic deaths of three young children. Four survivors, including their mother, are receiving treatment at Westmead Hospital. Authorities suspect foul play, and the children's father is under police guard.

Lalor Park

Three children killed in Sydney house fire

At least 65 people have been killed in floods and landslides in India’s northeastern Assam State. Authorities say 2,800 villages are submerged, with over 1.6 million people affected.

Assam

Dozens killed in India flooding, landslides

Israeli police have used water cannon against antigovernment protesters in Tel Aviv, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down. Demonstrators are calling for new elections, and the immediate release of captives held in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

Israeli demonstrators launch week of protests

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he will not continue with the previous Conservative government’s policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, in a move welcomed by rights advocates as long overdue.

Starmer to scrap UK's refugee deportation plan

Hamas has accepted a U.S. proposal to begin talks on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and men, 16 days after the first phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war, a senior Hamas source told Reuters.

Hamas accepts U.S. proposal on talks over hostages

U.S. officials are warning that storm Beryl could regain strength and hit Texas as a category three hurricane. Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm after hitting Mexico, leaving a trail of destruction and thousands without power.

Tulum

Hurricane Beryl heading towards Texas

U.S. President Joe Biden says last week's debate against Donald Trump 'wasn't his best performance' but vowed to still beat Trump in November's election. He made the comments at a rally in the battleground state of Wisconsin.

Madison

Biden in battleground blitz, staying 'in the race'

Parts of Australia are set for winter drenching with an entire season's worth of rain forecast over the next few days. The Bureau of Meteorology will continue to extend to parts of central Australia - before moving east.

Council of the City of Sydney

Sections of Australia facing widespread heavy rains

With his re-election campaign in crisis, U.S. President Joe Biden is hoping an interview with ABC News will convince Americans, and fellow Democrats, that he is indeed fit to run after a disastrous debate performance.

Biden fights to salvage campaign with high-stakes interview

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, amid criticism from the European Union. Putin declaring it was Kyiv, not the Kremlin that is still not willing to end the conflict.

Moscow

‘Peace mission’: Hungary’s Orban meets Putin in Russia

After meeting with King Charles, Britain’s new Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged a national ‘reset’ by bringing ‘stability and moderation’ to the United Kingdom after 14 years of often-chaotic Conservative Party rule.

Starmer promises ‘reset’ U.K. after chaotic Tory rule

Labour leader Keir Starmer has officially become the U.K.'s new prime minister with his party winning more than 400 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, the lower house of Britain's parliament. The landslide victory ends 14 years of Conservative Party rule.

Keir Starmer officially appointed U.K.'s prime minister

U.S. President Joe Biden is hoping a televised interview will steady his imperiled reelection bid -- but a repeat of his disastrous debate performance could be his downfall. In the week since his debate against Donald Trump, 81-year-old Biden has failed to quell panic among his Democratic Party.

Biden seeks campaign reset with high-risk TV interview

Beryl has made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane about 10 kilometers northeast of Mexico's Caribbean coast resort of Tulum with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h.

Cancún

Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Mexico near Cancun

Keir Starmer is set to become the UK Prime Minister after the Labour Party's significant election victory. They secured 410 seats, marking their first government role in 27 years, while the Conservative Party suffered its worst result since 1834.

Labour party wins majority in historic UK election

People in Mexico’s popular Yucatan Peninsula are bracing for Hurricane Beryl as it roars toward them after smashing through the Caribbean and killing at least 10 people. The system has strengthened to a Category 3 storm.

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