General Motors to pay $12.75m settlement for selling drivers’ location and data 09. May 2026 (01:51) Automaker had given ‘numerous statements reassuring drivers that it would not do so’, says California attorney generalGeneral Motors (GM) agreed to pay $12.75m to resolve claims that it illegally sold hundreds of thousands of Californians’ location and driving data to two data brokers, said the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, on Friday. He said this came after the Detroit-based automaker had given “numerous statements reassuring drivers that it would not do so”.“General Motors sold the data of California drivers without their knowledge or consent,” Bonta said in a statement. “This trove of information included precise and personal location data that could identify the everyday habits and movements of Californians.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump administration relaxing hunting restrictions in US parks and refuges 09. May 2026 (01:09) After January order from US department of the interior, managers across 55 sites have lifted prohibitionsDonald Trump’s administration is quietly pushing national park, refuge and wilderness area managers to dramatically scale back hunting restrictions, raising questions about visitor safety and the impact on wildlife.Doug Burgum, the US Department of the Interior secretary, issued an order in January directing multiple agencies to remove what he termed “unnecessary regulatory or administrative barriers” to hunting and fishing, to and justify regulations they want to keep in place. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doge slashing of humanities grants in 2025 ruled biased and unconstitutional 09. May 2026 (00:32) US judge says halt of $100m in funds allotted by Congress for scholars, writers and research illegal and discriminatoryA federal judge ruled on Thursday that the terminations of hundreds of humanities grants last year by the Trump administration’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) were unconstitutional and involved “blatant” discrimination. In April last year, Donald Trump’s administration terminated more than 1,400 grants, representing more than $100m in congressionally appropriated funds awarded to scholars, writers, research institutions and other humanities organizations.The terminations were part of a cost-cutting drive that billionaire Elon Musk was leading at Doge. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Florida surgeon ‘devastated’ over death of patient after removing liver instead of spleen 08. May 2026 (23:49) Thomas Shaknovsky botched the surgery of William Bryan, 70, who died on the operating tableA Florida surgeon who is facing criminal charges after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen has said he is “forever traumatized” by that person’s death.In a deposition from November that was recently obtained by NBC, 44-year-old Thomas Shaknovsky described the death of 70-year-old William Bryan as an “incredibly unfortunate event that I regret deeply”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nigel Farage hails ‘historic shift in politics’ after Reform UK election gains 08. May 2026 (23:47) Party has success in Labour and Tory heartland areas but one pollster says results suggest Reform may have peakedElections 2026 – live updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesNigel Farage hailed sweeping election wins for Reform UK as a “historic shift in British politics” on a day when the populist party made gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives.Reform made advances in heartland areas of both parties, clocking up substantial early results in the English local elections by taking control of Essex county council, Havering – its first London local authority – and Sunderland city council. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Four south Florida men convicted in Haitian president’s assassination 08. May 2026 (23:35) Men were convicted in Miami federal court for plotting to kill Jovenel Moise at his Port-au-Prince home in 2021Four south Florida men were convicted on Friday of plotting to kill Haitian president Jovenel Moise in 2021 by hiring mercenaries to assassinate him at his Port-au-Prince home, court records show.Prosecutors argued during the nine-week trial in a Miami federal court that the men assembled two dozen former Colombian soldiers and supplied them with money, guns, ammunition and tactical vests in a conspiracy to kill Moise. The 53-year-old president was shot dead in July 2021 at his private residence in the hills above Port-au-Prince, a killing that left a gaping political vacuum in the Caribbean nation and emboldened powerful gangs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
USPS considers allowing people to ship handguns through the mail 08. May 2026 (22:54) Trump administration urges US Postal Service to scrap 100-year-old rule as Democratic state attorneys general protestHandguns could be mailed through the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the first time in nearly 100 years if a proposed Trump administration rule takes effect.Democratic attorneys general in two dozen states have sent a letter in opposition. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour loses control of Birmingham city council after 14 years of leadership 08. May 2026 (22:01) Reform, Greens and pro-Gaza independents make significant gains, although no party has yet won majorityElections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directionsLatest news updates and analysis from election nightThe Labour party’s 14-year leadership in Birmingham has come to an end after Reform, Greens and pro-Gaza independents made significant gains in the UK’s second-largest city.No party has yet won an overall majority at Birmingham city council, one of Europe’s largest local authorities, with the results reflecting wider political fragmentation across England. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
King Charles features in surprise birthday tribute to David Attenborough 08. May 2026 (21:50) Whimsical film shows relay of animals carrying centennial card from Balmoral Castle to naturalist in LondonKing Charles has featured in a surprise birthday tribute to David Attenborough, with a cast of wild animals helping to relay his handwritten congratulatory centenary card.The whimsical film, A Very Special Delivery, begins with the king writing his tribute in the library of Balmoral Castle. Charles, wearing an animal-themed tie featuring elephants, reflects on more than 60 years of friendship with the renowned naturalist. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Small Georgia town left in limbo after mayor fires entire police department 08. May 2026 (21:47) The Cohutta town council will discuss reinstating the police and consider request for mayor's ‘immediate resignation’The town council in a small mountain community in the US state of Georgia called a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all the officers.The notice for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta town hall, says the council will also consider a request for the mayor’s “immediate resignation”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
