The Guardian

Experts say slashed funding and growing misinformation are some of the greatest challenges facing public healthThe hantavirus outbreak, while unlikely to spark the next big pandemic, is shining a spotlight on the ways public health has deteriorated in the US: its ability to test for rare diseases, its expertise on outbreak prevention and response, its ability to battle misinformation and restore trust.“Assuming everything goes well in containing this outbreak, which I hope it does, the takeaway from that should not be ‘we’re fine,’” said Stephanie Psaki, former White House global health security coordinator. “We’re not ready for this type of

‘He’s having a great time with his new 47% equity,’ one entrepreneur jokes, warning that some startups may leave Australia behindGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTech entrepreneurs have mocked the government’s capital gains tax changes by posting AI-generated photos of Anthony Albanese as their “new founder” and warning that increased taxes could push people away from working for new businesses or send startups overseas.Startups and entrepreneurs may yet receive a carve-out in the federal government’s planned changes to the CGT discount, with the prime minister saying he wanted to support innovation and the treasurer, Jim

Some feel optimistic change will come, but for many it’s business as usual for the movement Hugo Chávez startedWhen Ángel Linares heard a strange buzz followed by an explosion, his first thought was that neighbours were setting off fireworks to celebrate the new year.Then his windows shattered, the building’s walls shook and its facade was ripped off, sending him flying on to the ground of an apartment suddenly reduced to rubble. His 85-year-old mother, Jesucita, feared Venezuela’s northern coast had been devastated by an earthquake, like the one she remembers from 1967. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/may/17/feels-like-an-illusion-how-trump-seizing-maduro-has-changed-little-in-venezuela Author :

Opposition expected to retain the northern Brisbane seat, with Luke Richmond ahead of Fiona Hammond by more than 700 votesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland’s opposition leader, Steven Miles, says he has caucus support to remain Labor leader “right now”, after the party suffered a swing against it at a byelection in the north of Brisbane.Labor is expected to retain the northern Brisbane seat of Stafford but recorded an 8% swing against it on primary votes. The ALP candidate, Luke Richmond, was ahead of the Liberal National

Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJim Chalmers says the opposition’s policy to index tax brackets would cost the budget a quarter of a trillion dollars over ten years, while claiming that the government is returning bracket creep to taxpayers.It’s a slightly tricky position, as Angus Taylor argues that Labor is “betraying” itself because the high figure is actually how much the government is keeping and spending through bracket creep ever year.This is a Government that returns bracket creep when it is responsible to do that.That would cost tens of billions of

Asylum seekers express dismay at continuation of scheme agreed last year that has failed to stop crossings in ChannelThe Home Office is extending a controversial scheme to stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats, the Guardian has learned.The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, signed a deal they hailed as “groundbreaking” last July, known as “one in, one out”. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/16/uk-and-france-extend-one-in-one-out-small-boats-pilot-scheme-until-october Author : Diane Taylor Publish date : 2026-05-16 21:07:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Turnout down at second Unite the Kingdom march featuring Islamophobic and ethnonationalist hate speech and flyersThe far-right activist Tommy Robinson told tens of thousands of supporters to prepare for the “battle of Britain” during a rally in London on Saturday.Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, drew tens of thousands of supporters on to the streets of central London for the second year running in an event where Islamophobic and ethnonationalist hate speech and flyers were distributed to the crowds. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/16/tommy-robinson-tells-tens-of-thousands-at-london-rally-to-prepare-for-battle-of-britain Author : Geraldine McKelvie Publish date : 2026-05-16 18:21:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs

Three paramedics at health centre among dead, while Israel also says it killed Hamas military chief in GazaIsrael carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least six people, including three paramedics working at a health centre, just hours after its envoys had agreed with the Lebanese government to extend a ceasefire.Israel also said it had killed the Hamas military chief, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, in a targeted strike in Gaza on Friday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/16/israeli-strikes-southern-lebanon-hours-after-extension-of-ceasefire Author : Julian Borger in Jerusalem Publish date : 2026-05-16 15:57:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Men arrested at ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march meeting point over incident on Thursday after flags were removed from lamp-postsTwo men have been arrested in London after an incident in Birmingham in which a man was run over by a van after flags were removed from lamp-posts.Officers arrested the men at Euston station near the meeting point of the “Unite the Kingdom” march. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/16/two-men-arrested-after-man-run-over-by-van-in-birmingham-near-flag-protest Author : Neha Gohil Midlands correspondent Publish date : 2026-05-16 13:39:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Police monitoring both Tommy Robinson’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march and also the annual ‘Nakba day’ pro-Palestine marchCommenting on today’s policing operation in London, the Met Police said they had made two arrests near Euston station.A statement from the force read:Officers have made two arrests in the vicinity of Euston station.Two men, wanted on suspicion of GBH following an incident in Birmingham where a man was run over, were spotted arriving into London to attend the UTK protest. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/may/16/far-right-unite-the-kingdom-rally-tommy-robinson-london-nakba-day-march-latest-news-updates Author : Taz Ali and Hamish Mackayin London Publish date : 2026-05-16 11:15:00 Copyright for syndicated content

Week of leadership jostling has left Keir Starmer looking vulnerable and short of time – even though no challenger has officially come forwardIt was a minute or so into his BBC interview on Friday morning, after being asked about “moves” to remove Keir Starmer, that Steve Reed ran out of patience. “There is no contest,” he interrupted. “‘Moves’ mean nothing. People need 81 nominations to stand against the prime minister.”The housing secretary, a close ally of Starmer and a founding member of the Labour Together thinktank that catapulted him to power, was right, of course: no one has formally challenged

Supporters at the Victorian state library protested against prosecutors dropping a manslaughter charge against the man accused of killing herGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIsla Bell, the 19-year-old whose body was found in a Melbourne tip 18 months ago, has been remembered as a loving, courageous and open-hearted young woman with a green thumb and an “exquisitely beautiful soul”.Friends, family and supporters gathered outside the Victorian state library on Saturday to honour the teenager and protest against prosecutors dropping a manslaughter charge against the man who had been accused of killing her. Continue reading... Source

Family and supporters had hoped the US president could help free the 78-year-old British citizen during summit talks in BeijingDonald Trump raised the case of jailed Hong Kong democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai in talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping but was told it “is a tough one”.Family and supporters of the 78-year-old British citizen had hoped the US president could help secure his release. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/16/trump-not-optimistic-jimmy-lai-release-xi-jinping Author : Press Association Publish date : 2026-05-16 03:28:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Proposal comes after seven states drawing water from drought-stricken river failed to come to an agreementThe US government has proposed a plan for the drought stricken Colorado River that could cut up to 40% of current supplies to Arizona, California and Nevada, as the waterway’s reservoirs continue to plunge to critically low levels.A top Arizona water official shared details of the Trump administration’s plan at a state meeting on Wednesday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/15/us-plan-colorado-river-california-arizona-nevada Author : Uwa Ede-Osifo Publish date : 2026-05-16 00:44:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi appeared in US federal court to face six terrorism-related chargesThe US justice department has arrested and charged an Iraqi national accused of involvement in nearly 20 alleged terror attacks and attempted attacks across the US and Europe.The wave of violence attributed to Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi has caused huge concern in many European countries but especially the UK, where Jewish community centres, charities, synagogues and other sites have been targeted in recent weeks. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/15/iraqi-terror-attacks-arrested-charged Author : Maya Yang and Jason Burke Publish date : 2026-05-15 22:31:00 Copyright for syndicated

Prosecutors have described fatal shooting outside of DC’s Capital Jewish Museum last year as calculated and plannedThe US justice department will seek the death penalty for the man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum, prosecutors said in a court filing on Friday.Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left an event at the museum last May. Rodriguez shouted “free Palestine” during the shooting and later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for

Weinstein has been convicted of other crimes in the US and is already behind bars but move leaves rape charge in limboHarvey Weinstein’s retrial in New York on a rape charge ended in a mistrial on Friday after the jury deadlocked in the closely watched criminal case that another jury had already failed to decide last year.The disgraced former Hollywood mogul has been convicted of other sex crimes on the US east and west coasts and is already in jail. But Friday’s declaration of another mistrial leaves the New York rape charge in limbo after three trials. Continue reading... Source

Lead singer Stuart Murdoch’s self-deprecating It Only Takes One Lion is inspired by team’s current song, Yes Sir, I Can BoogieThe lyrics came to Stuart Murdoch in the hazy aftermath of Scotland’s dramatic qualification for the World Cup.The Belle and Sebastian frontman had watched his side’s playoff victory over Denmark through his fingers before deciding to write his own anthem to a team he has followed for more than 50 years. “Most people recognised instantly the next day that they’d witnessed the most important Scottish game ever,” says Murdoch. “That was our magic moment.” Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/15/belle-sebastian-scotland-anthem-dramatic-world-cup-qualifier

Redress to customers for force-fitting devices in homes includes £20m penalty and £70m of debt write-offsThousands of British Gas customers who had prepayment meters force-fitted in their homes will between them receive compensation and energy bill debt write-offs worth up to £112m in the biggest energy supplier settlement on record.Great Britain’s energy regulator found that British Gas forced PPMs on homes that were not keeping up with their bills at the height of the Russian gas crisis, in one of the most complex investigations in Ofgem’s history. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/15/british-gas-prepayment-meters-compensation-customers Author : Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent Publish

Record heat in North and Central America coincides with egg-sized hailstones in eastern ChinaExtreme weather across several parts of the world this week has brought record-breaking temperatures to Honduras, North America and Indonesia.Honduras smashed its all-time May maximum temperature record earlier this month – only for it to be broken again on 13 May in Choluteca, known as the furnace of Central America. Temperatures climbed to 42.2C (107.9F), surpassing the previous record of 42.1C. With intense heat forecast to persist over the coming weeks, more records are expected to fall. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/15/weather-tracker-furnace-creek-siberia-snow-siberia-week-extremes Author : Ed Walton

Housing secretary Steve Reed says no one has numbers for challenge and Labour should row in behind prime ministerOne of Keir Starmer’s closest allies in the cabinet has conceded that the prime minister is “unpopular” but has insisted Labour should not repeat the same pattern of changing leaders that damaged the Conservatives.The housing secretary, Steve Reed, one of Starmer’s most loyal ministers and staunch defenders, told broadcasters on Friday that no one had the numbers to challenge him and the party should come together behind the prime minister. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/15/keir-starmer-ally-steve-reed-admits-pm-is-unpopular Author : Jamie Grierson Publish date

Butterfly Conservation poll is open until 7 June with choice of 60 species from small tortoiseshells to purple emperorsWill it be the rapidly disappearing former garden favourite, the small tortoiseshell? Or the poet John Masefield’s “oakwood haunting thing”, the charismatic purple emperor? Or perhaps the brimstone, the ultimate harbinger of spring?The question of which is Britain’s favourite butterfly is being put to a popular vote for the first time. The charity Butterfly Conservation is running the poll, which runs until 7 June, giving people the chance to choose their favourite from the 60 species that fly around Britain every summer.

US official says it is important for Xi Jinping to have the strait of Hormuz open and is confident China will try to limit material support for IranXi warns Trump of ‘clashes and even conflicts’ with US over TaiwanAnalysis: For anxious Taiwan, Trump’s silence after Xi talks is best possible outcomeJamieson Greer also said US export controls on semiconductor chips were not a major topic of discussions with Chinese officials in Beijing.The US trade representative’s comments to Bloomberg on Friday suggest a breakthrough on selling Nvidia’s advanced H200 chips to China remains far away, Reuters is reporting, despite Nvidia chief

Taylor claimed that migrants were coming to Australia and claiming benefits before they were becoming citizens, a situation he said Australians did not accept. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning, it’s Nick Visser here to take over the blog. Let’s get to it and see what Friday holds.Big news to start the morning: Australia’s Delta Goodrem has qualified for the Eurovision final. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/may/15/australia-news-live-delta-goodrem-eurovision-budget-reply-angus-taylor-immigration-income-tax-bracket-creep-jim-chalmers-inflation-ntwnfb Author : Nick Visser Publish date : 2026-05-15 00:07:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

There was wind, there was fire, there was Goodrem’s remarkable upper-range – resulting in a refreshingly self-assured offering from Australia‘Sung by a silver robot from 1984!’ The 11 biggest bangers in Eurovision 2026Standing before a glistening crescent moon and adorned in more than 7,000 Swarovski crystals, Australia’s 2026 Eurovision hopeful Delta Goodrem has delivered a powerful performance on the 70th anniversary of the global song contest – and become the first Australian act to qualify for the grand final since 2023.Heading into the competition as an early favourite behind Eurovision heavy-hitters Denmark and Finland, Goodrem delivered a note-perfect rendition of