Powerful US utilities secretly fund ‘grassroots’ groups to sway cities away from switch to public power 07. May 2026 (12:00) As communities push for publicly owned electricity, private utilities may be deploying dark money and local front groups to stop themThe utility industry is quietly dispatching a network of front groups to thwart the growing push for public power across the US – a push that comes amid mounting frustration over sky-high utility bills, electric outages, a slow transition to clean energy and private utilities’ soaring profits.Communities from Ann Arbor, Michigan to San Diego, California and St Petersburg, Florida are exploring municipalizing their grids to join the country’s approximately 2,000 public power companies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Iran reviewing peace proposal as Trump says a deal ‘very possible’ 07. May 2026 (11:55) The US and Iran have offered conflicting messages over the likelihood of a deal being reached imminentlyPakistan, which has positioned itself as a key mediator in talks between the US and Iran, has continued to express optimism at a possible deal without offering any clues at to where the negotiations currently stand.The Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, would not disclose details of the ongoing diplomatic efforts but said a deal could be reached soon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Antisemitism has become ‘almost fashionable’ among Australians, Jillian Segal tells royal commission 07. May 2026 (11:34) On its fourth day of public hearings, royal commission into antisemitism also hears Jewish Australians have been pressured to resign and verbally abusedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJewish Australians have been told to use “less obviously Jewish” names, felt pressure to resign and been verbally abused by colleagues in the wake of 7 October 2023.On its fourth day of public hearings, the antisemitism royal commission also heard evidence from Australia’s antisemitism envoy, who said hatred towards Jews had become “almost fashionable”, while a Sydney nurse said New South Wales Health was “not safe for Jewish people”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Planes carrying IS-linked family members land in Australia, with police expected to make arrests 07. May 2026 (11:29) Group of 13 women and children left Syria for Australia on Wednesday, with authorities saying some adults may be chargedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThirteen women and children have landed in Australia after being detained for more than seven years in Syrian detention camps following the fall of Islamic State.One of the women, Janai Safar, was taken into custody by Australian federal police officers shortly after she and her child landed in Sydney from Doha on Thursday evening.
Passengers who were on the flight said they saw four officers board the plane and escort three people, including a man, woman, and child, off the plane. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rubio set to meet Pope Leo in bid to ease tensions after Trump’s criticism of the pontiff - Europe live 07. May 2026 (11:27) Relations between the Vatican and Washington are increasingly fraught after the US president lashed out at the pope over his criticism of the war in Iranin PalermoMeanwhile, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is to meet Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday in an effort to ease tensions after Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of the first North American pontiff.“If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth: the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that. I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of God’s word.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Britons on hantavirus-hit ship to be asked to isolate back in UK for 45 days 07. May 2026 (11:23) Two British nationals who left MV Hondius before outbreak was detected are already self-isolating at home, say officialsWhat is hantavirus?British passengers onboard a cruise ship hit with a deadly outbreak of hantavirus will be asked to self-isolate in the UK for 45 days, a health official has suggested, as two passengers who left the vessel continue to isolate at home in Britain.Neither of the two Britons who left MV Hondius at Saint Helena in late April are reporting symptoms, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKSA). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
JD Sports says Iran war could hit consumer spending and raise prices 07. May 2026 (11:02) Retail group with 4,800 stores worldwide expects drop in profits this year amid ‘muted market’Business live – latest updatesThe sports fashion retailer JD has warned that profits will fall this year amid a “muted market” hit by weaker spending by young people and concerns about the Middle East conflict.The company, which runs 4,800 stores worldwide including the JD, Blacks and Millets chains in the UK, said it expected profits of between £750m and £850m in the year ahead, after reporting £852m in the year to the end of January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woman jailed in Somalia for peaceful protest ‘stripped, kicked and beaten’ 07. May 2026 (11:00) In an exclusive interview from prison, Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old rickshaw driver, tells of her treatment after being arrested for demonstrating against the governmentA woman being held in prison in Somalia for taking part in peaceful protests has described how she was tortured by her guards.Sadia Moalim Ali, 27, told the Guardian she was stripped naked by two male guards in a room monitored by CCTV, kicked, beaten with a baton and left for two days in a small cell without food. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Came here with hope’ and ‘died unseen’: tearful crowd says goodbye to homeless man Bikram Lama 07. May 2026 (10:32) People gathered at dusk under the fig tree canopy of Sydney’s Hyde Park to pay tribute to the 32-year-old who died nearby and lay undiscovered for up to a weekFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNo one should be left to die in the middle of Sydney, alone and unseen.That was the powerful message delivered by homelessness support worker Erin Longbottom to a crowd gathered in Hyde Park to honour Bikram Lama. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Restaurants won’t survive’: Michelin chef opens venues abroad to withstand UK taxes 07. May 2026 (10:00) Jason Atherton, who has restaurants in Dubai, St Moritz and now Tuscany, says it’s tough to stay afloat in UK hospitality industryA British Michelin-starred chef says he is opening restaurants abroad to subsidise his UK venues against a backdrop of high taxes and a struggling hospitality sector.Jason Atherton is now in Forte dei Marmi, on the Tuscan coast in Italy, where he is preparing his newest opening, Maria’s, which will be in the Principessa hotel. The Sheffield-born chef now has restaurants all over the world, including in Dubai and St Moritz. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
