Iran conducting near-daily prisoner executions in secrecy, say rights groups 07. May 2026 (15:12) Families pressured to stay silent, with at least 24 executions reportedly taking place since March amid internet blackoutMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran is carrying out near-daily executions of prisoners in secrecy and, in some cases, refusing to hand the bodies of the dead to their families, according to rights groups and sources close to the relatives of the dead.Many families only learn of executions after they have been carried out, with some facing harassment and pressure not to speak publicly on the personal impact of the state killings, the sources say. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘People should be talking about it’: moves to curtail vaccine information obscures important science, doctors say 07. May 2026 (15:00) Quashed studies, halted publications and canceled research threaten damage to public health, critics saySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A series of high-profile and under-the-radar decisions by US health agencies have scientists and doctors questioning the extent of the agencies’ control over public communications – and they say the debate is obscuring the most important part, which is informing the public about key updates in science and medicine.Studies on the safety of vaccines against shingles and Covid were reportedly quashed before publication by officials at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The news follows the hasty halt on publication of a study on the effectiveness of Covid boosters by the top acting official at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and research terminated or never approved in the first place because of keywords such as “hesitancy” and “misinformation” at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The Only Way Is Essex star Jake Hall found dead in Mallorca 07. May 2026 (14:58) Towie star Hall, 35, found unresponsive with head wounds reportedly caused by shards of glass at villa on Spanish islandThe Only Way Is Essex star Jake Hall has been found dead in a freak accident in Mallorca.The former reality TV show personality was found unresponsive with head wounds reportedly caused by shards of glass at a villa on the Spanish island. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rachel Entrekin becomes first woman to win Cocodona 250 ultramarathon – and pets dogs along the way 07. May 2026 (14:53) 34-year-old heads elite field of men and womenAmerican takes small naps during 56-hour runRachel Entrekin has made history by beating a field of elite men and women to win the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon.Entrekin had won the women’s race on two occasions but on Wednesday she headed the entire field, winning in a record time of 56 hours 9 minutes and 48 seconds. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK construction firms face some of sharpest cost rises in nearly 30 years 07. May 2026 (14:49) Iran war is driving up prices for fuel and raw materials, says survey Business live – latest updatesConstruction companies in the UK are experiencing some of the sharpest cost rises in nearly 30 years as the war in Iran drives up prices for fuel and raw materials, according to a closely watched survey.The poll of UK construction companies found that input cost inflation – which accounts for expenses such as raw materials, energy and labour – rose last month to the highest level since June 2022 when there was a spike in commodity prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Report shows banned non-fiction books doubled over last school year in US 07. May 2026 (14:30) New PEN America report analysed 3,743 unique titles removed from libraries and classrooms and found books about activism and social movements were targetedA new report has found that the number of banned non-fiction books doubled during the 2024-2025 school year in the US.PEN America analysed the 3,743 unique titles removed from school libraries and classrooms in the July to June period and found that over 1,100 or 29% were non-fiction, more than double the year prior. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Almost $4bn more for Victoria’s contentious Suburban Rail Loop to be included in federal budget 07. May 2026 (14:30) Additional funding for the costly 90km public transport project promised ahead of state’s November electionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal budget will include another $3.8bn for the Suburban Rail Loop, Melbourne’s controversial and costly 90km public transport project.Prime minister Anthony Albanese will announce the additional funding alongside the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, on Friday ahead of the 12 May budget and as early campaigning for the state election heats up. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republicans poised to vote on new House map that would erase Democratic seat in Tennessee – US politics live 07. May 2026 (14:30) Such a move could reshape the electoral map ahead of the midterms by carving up a majority-Black congressional districtSign up for the Breaking News US emailMeanwhile, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has now left the Vatican after meeting Pope Leo after some two hours there.He met initially with the pontiff before sitting down with senior Vatican officials, including top diplomat Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin, Reuters reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man arrested on suspicion of handling Morgan McSweeney’s stolen phone 07. May 2026 (14:20) Police say man is not suspected of involvement in the theft itself and the phone has not been recoveredPolice investigating the theft of a phone belonging to Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney have arrested a man.The man, who was arrested on Wednesday in Peckham, south London, is suspected of receiving the phone after it was stolen, the Metropolitan police said on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
German tourist awarded €1,000 after losing out on sunloungers at Greek hotel 07. May 2026 (14:14) Court in Hanover says man entitled to payout after he and his family had to lie on concreteA German holidaymaker has won a payout of almost €1,000 after being unable to find a sunlounger for himself and his family because other guests had got there first.The man, whose identity is not known, holidayed on the island of Kos, in Greece, with his family in 2024. He said that, despite waking up at the crack of dawn every morning to carry out a 20-minute search, he had not been able to lay claim to a lounger. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
