Reinstate windfall tax on banks after surge in profits, TUC urges 06. May 2026 (01:01) Unions group wants rate returned from 3% to 8% after big four UK lenders reveal £14bn total profit in first quarter An increased windfall tax should be imposed on the UK’s largest banks according to trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost £14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence caused by the Iran war.The Trades Union Congress (TUC) renewed its call for an increase in the current bank surcharge, which was reduced from 8% to 3% of profits above £100m by the Conservative government in 2023, as banks benefit from the high interest rate environment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Correspondents’ dinner suspect faces new charge of assaulting federal officer 06. May 2026 (00:39) Revised indictment alleges Cole Allen, accused of targeting Trump, assaulted federal officer with deadly weaponCole Tomas Allen, the suspected gunman at the White House correspondents’ dinner, is facing an additional related charge for assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, federal authorities announced on Tuesday.The new charge, which formally accuses Allen of firing at a US Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint, is part of a new four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Washington. The other three counts are charges Allen previously faced: attempted assassination, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and illegal transportation of a firearm and ammunition across state lines. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rubio insists US is ‘very fortunate’ as Iran war pushes gas price near $4.50 05. May 2026 (23:55) US secretary of state says US is better off than other countries hit by disruption in oil suppliesMarco Rubio has argued the US is in a “very fortunate” position as fuel prices continue to climb nationwide amid disruption sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran.With average US fuel prices now approaching $4.50 a gallon – their highest level in four years – the US secretary of state was asked on Tuesday how long Americans should accept them at such levels. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: banks pass on interest rate hike to customers; Sydney ‘globalise the intifada’ forum held in park 05. May 2026 (23:55) Lenders increase borrowing rates by 0.25%; pro-Palestine meeting barred from council venue goes ahead outside in Darlington. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFederal shadow treasurer says any handouts in budget could add to inflationThe federal shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, has warned that potential cash handouts in next week’s federal budget could add to inflation.Unfortunately when the government hasn’t take inflation seriously, we’ve ended up in this situation and the risk is that if you keep handing out money to households, what you’ll actually do is fuel inflation.This is a government that cuts taxes. We’ve cut taxes already and we will cut taxes again, we made that clear and we made that public.The issue is, the budget won’t be pumping a lot of extra stimulus in the economy, in fact overall we’ll be winding back spending in the budget. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FDA blocked studies finding Covid and shingles vaccines safe, HHS official says 05. May 2026 (23:46) Serious side effects from vaccines were rare, scientists found in studies funded by US taxpayer moneyThe US Food and Drug Administration has blocked the publication of several studies that found Covid-19 and shingles vaccines to be safe, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services.Agency scientists conducted the studies by analyzing millions of patient records and found that serious side effects from the vaccines were rare, the spokesperson confirmed. The studies – funded by taxpayer money and costing several million dollars – included research examining the safety of Covid-19 vaccines in 2023 and 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be British Red Cross spokesperson, charity says 05. May 2026 (23:33) Green party leader also accused of incorrectly stating he was a full member of the National Council of HypnotherapyZack Polanski falsely claimed to be a spokesperson for the British Red Cross while campaigning for Green party leadership, the charity has said.This was also mentioned on his personal website in 2020, where he said he was “really proud of the work we do”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Unwell British crew member to be ‘urgently’ evacuated from cruise ship after hantavirus cases 05. May 2026 (23:29) Briton and Dutch colleague to be removed from MV Hondius, as ship sets course for Canary Islands after deal struck with Spain What is hantavirus, the infection thought to have killed three on cruise ship?A British crew member who became ill after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean is to be medically evacuated, officials have said.The crew member is being prepared for medical evacuation from the MV Hondius along with a Dutch colleague, with Dutch authorities overseeing the operation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California ‘failing victims’ of violent crime as financial support plummets 05. May 2026 (23:13) Analysis finds victims’ compensation program is awarding less money to fewer people, although budget has increasedVictims of violent crime in California are finding it increasingly hard to get support from the state, a new analysis has found, a development that has locked some of the most vulnerable people out of funds to help cover crime scene cleanup, relocation costs, funerals and therapy.California established the nation’s first victims’ compensation program in 1965, aimed at helping victims of violent crimes and their families cover some of the costs sprung onto them by the violence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate Republicans propose package including $1bn that could go to Trump ballroom 05. May 2026 (21:51) New immigration enforcement package could fund security of $400m ‘East Wing modernization project’Senate Republicans have released a new immigration enforcement funding package that includes a proposed $1bn that could go to security measures related to the $400m ballroom that is part of Donald Trump’s “East Wing modernization project”.Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate judiciary committee, released the funding plan on Monday, as part of a wider bill the Republican party plans to pass along party lines to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies involved in the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US-Iran truce teeters on meltdown as stalemate takes toll on each side 05. May 2026 (21:11) Conflict appears to have reached impasse, but leaders in Tehran and Washington seem to think victory is nearThe month-old ceasefire between Iran and the US appeared to be in new peril on Tuesday with a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles reported to have targeted the United Arab Emirates as US naval forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the strait of Hormuz.The Iranian strike on the UAE was the second in 48 hours, and came shortly after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, insisted the shaky truce which has paused the war in the Middle East was intact, despite the new increase in violence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
