US inflation jumped to 3.8% in April as war with Iran continues to drive up prices 12. May 2026 (14:37) Prices rose 3.8% over the last year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, highest jump since 2023Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailUS inflation jumped to 3.8% in April as the war in the Middle East continued to drive energy prices and everyday costs for Americans.Prices rose 3.8% over the last year, according to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest jump since 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jess Phillips becomes second minister to resign from Starmer government 12. May 2026 (14:03) Safeguarding minister joins Miatta Fahnbulleh in publicly calling for PM to quit after heavy election lossesUK politics live – latest updatesOne of Keir Starmer’s most influential ministers, Jess Phillips, has resigned from the government, calling for Keir Starmer to quit and saying she has grown tired of seeing “opportunities for progress stalled and delayed”.Starmer told his cabinet earlier on Tuesday he would fight on as prime minister, saying the threshold for a leadership challenge had not been met. Phillips is known to be a close ally of the health secretary, Wes Streeting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s rollback of toxic gas rules limits EPA’s authority to protect public health, analysis says 12. May 2026 (14:00) Ethylene oxide (EtO) is about 60 times more carcinogenic than believed in 2006, research findsA new Trump administration plan to rescind 2024 regulations for toxic ethylene oxide (EtO) pollution more broadly aims to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to strengthen public health protections around hazardous emissions and could result in more of the toxin being released into the air.Recent research has found EtO is about 60 times more carcinogenic than thought when the last regulations were developed in 2006. In 2024, the Biden EPA passed a rule that strengthened the regulations to reflect the updated science, and required the nation’s EtO emitters to collectively cut their emissions by about 90%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Palestine Action trial lawyer wins appeal against contempt of court charge 12. May 2026 (13:24) Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching judge’s directions with his closing speech at trial of six activistsA leading human rights barrister has won an appeal against his referral for contempt of court over his closing speech during a trial of Palestine Action activists.Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching the judge’s directions in the trial of six people for a 2024 direct action protest at an arms factory of the Israeli subsidiary Elbit Systems UK in Filton, near Bristol. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli MPs back special tribunal with death penalty powers for alleged 7 October attackers 12. May 2026 (13:23) Knesset approves plan for livestreamed trials in military court, drawing comparisons to 1962 Adolf Eichmann trialIsraeli lawmakers have approved setting up a livestreamed special tribunal with the power to sentence to death Palestinians convicted of taking part in the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza.The measure was passed by 93 votes to none in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament, reflecting widespread support among Israel’s Jewish majority for punishing those found responsible for the deadliest single attack in Israel’s history. The remaining 27 lawmakers were absent or abstained from voting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Aukus costs balloon with more cash and staff for submarine agency amid ongoing search for nuclear waste dump 12. May 2026 (13:03) Labor has announced funding for Australian Submarine Agency will jump to $512m in next financial year amid concerns the sovereign submarine fleet may never arriveFederal budget 2026 LIVE updates: Australia government budget announcement and speech – latest newsExplore all of our 2026 Australia federal budget coverageGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe budget for Australia’s contentious Aukus deal has ballooned by more than $430m over four years, with the agency charged with securing the country’s nuclear-powered submarines requiring a massive injection of funding and staffing.The Australian Submarine Agency’s resourcing for next financial year will jump by a third – from $385m to $512m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
European ministers to discuss sending rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs 12. May 2026 (13:00) Exclusive: Council of Europe to meet in Moldova on Friday, with human rights body expected to recognise countries’ right to control bordersEurope live – latest updatesEuropean ministers will this week discuss plans to send thousands of rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs, the head of the continent’s human rights body has told the Guardian.Alain Berset, the secretary general of the Council of Europe, said discussions about the removal of people who arrived in Europe by irregular routes would take place “at a multilateral level” at a meeting in Moldova on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
WHO head tells countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases 12. May 2026 (12:56) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praises Spain’s ‘compassion and solidarity’ in evacuating virus-hit cruise shipThe head of the World Health Organization has told countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases after the outbreak onboard the MV Hondius, and thanked Spain for the “compassion and solidarity” it had shown by taking in the stricken cruise ship and evacuating its passengers and crew.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged authorities to follow the WHO’s advice and recommendations, which include a 42-day quarantine and constant monitoring of high-risk contacts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 110 Nobel laureates call on Iran to release gravely ill activist Narges Mohammadi 12. May 2026 (12:37) As human rights advocate is treated in Tehran hospital after transfer from Zanjan prison, prize winners demand her freedomMore than 110 Nobel laureates have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and Nobel peace prize laureate, after she was transferred to hospital amid concerns over her rapidly deteriorating health.In a statement released on Tuesday, 112 Nobel laureates urged the Iranian authorities and the international community to act “without delay” to secure Mohammadi’s release and ensure her continued access to medical treatment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sicily police investigate illegal race with horse-drawn carts and Kalashnikovs 12. May 2026 (12:34) Horses seized and several people questioned after animal rights activist shares video of race along country roadsA video showing an illegal horse race in Sicily, with spectators firing pistols into the air and brandishing Kalashnikov rifles, has prompted a police investigation that has led to the seizure of the animals.The clip, reportedly filmed last Friday, shows two jockeys driving horse-drawn carts at breakneck speed along country roads in the town of Palagonia, near Catania, in eastern Sicily. Behind them, dozens of people follow on scooters, firing shots into the air. The footage was posted on social media by an animal rights activist named Enrico Rizzi. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
