Xi Jinping prepares to welcome Vladimir Putin to China, four days after hosting Donald Trump 18. May 2026 (05:52) China’s deep relationship with Russia remains a continuing cause for concern in the west, particularly since Moscow launched its invasion of UkraineXi Jinping and Vladimir Putin exchanged “congratulatory letters” on Sunday ahead of the Russian president’s visit to Beijing this week, four days since Donald Trump left China after a high-stakes summit.Xi, China’s leader, said bilateral cooperation between Russia and China had “continuously deepened and solidified”, with this year marking the 30th anniversary of the two countries’ strategic partnership, according to Chinese state media. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Neo-Nazi group challenges hate ban by arguing law ‘operates as a doorway to tyranny’ 18. May 2026 (05:43) Banned White Australia group lodges documents with high court stating legislation ‘burdens freedom of governmental and political communication’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA neo-Nazi group, which is aiming to start a political party and was last week banned as a hate group, has launched legal action against the commonwealth that will test the constitutional validity of the prohibition.The federal government on Friday banned neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network (NSN), also known as White Australia, by listing it as a prohibited hate group under legislation passed in the wake of December’s Bondi beach terror attack. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pianist Jayson Gillham’s case against MSO mustn’t turn into ‘roving inquiry’ on Middle East conflict, judge warns 18. May 2026 (05:25) Federal court case begins for classical pianist who alleges Melbourne Symphony Orchestra unlawfully discriminated due to his viewsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe judge hearing the case of a classical pianist who alleges the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra unlawfully discriminated against him because of his views on Israeli forces killing Palestianian journalists says the matter will not be a “roving inquiry” over conflict in the Middle East.Pianist Jayson Gillham is suing the MSO over a cancelled Melbourne concert he was contracted to perform on 15 August 2024, a cancellation which he claims was an attempt to silence him over his stance on the Gaza conflict. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French star Patrick Bruel denies multiple sexual assault allegations 18. May 2026 (05:21) Singer and actor who has appeared in more than 40 films faces investigations in France and BelgiumThe French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, the subject of multiple rape allegations, protested his innocence on Sunday and said he would not step away from his work.The Paris prosecutor’s office announced earlier on Sunday that Bruel was the subject of at least four complaints of sexual assault in France, and that the cases would be investigated together.Agence France-Presse contributed to this report Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK firms halt investments and hiring as Iran war pushes up costs, bosses warn 18. May 2026 (01:01) Survey shows businesses ‘struggling to absorb latest economic shock’, while data says April vacancies down 7.7%The worsening fallout from the Iran war is forcing businesses to halt their UK investment and hiring plans, bosses have warned, as Britain enters a renewed period of political and economic instability.More than two months into the US-Israeli war on Iran, leading surveys of UK employers showed companies were increasingly prioritising cost management over growth as rising costs and global uncertainty weigh on confidence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Campaigners threaten legal action over UK-US deal on prices NHS pays for drugs 18. May 2026 (01:01) Two campaign groups claim that change to how NHS treatments are approved amounts to ‘unlawful power grab’Campaigners against the UK’s controversial drug pricing deal with Donald Trump are threatening the government with legal action unless it scraps a key element of the plan.They claim that a change to how drug treatments are approved for use by the NHS, which could lead to it paying even higher prices for them, amounts to an “unlawful power grab”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
David Lammy promises 25% cut in number of children jailed while they await trial 18. May 2026 (01:01) Justice secretary’s white paper will overhaul youth justice rules and could end lifelong criminal records for under-18sDavid Lammy has promised to cut the number of children kept in jail while they await trial by a quarter as part of an overhaul of youth justice rules that could also end lifelong criminal records for under-18s.The justice secretary is publishing a white paper on Monday that he says will reduce the number of children ending up in jail – something he admits was his greatest fear growing up in Tottenham in the 1980s. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Government-backed Pensions Commission calls for action on gender savings gap 18. May 2026 (01:01) Body says, on average, British women approaching retirement have half private pension savings of men – £81,000 versus £156,000A shake-up of pensions in Britain must involve measures to close the gap in retirement savings between men and women, the revived Pensions Commission is to tell ministers.According to the government-backed body, women approaching retirement have on average half the private pension savings of men, with a median pension wealth of £81,000 versus £156,000. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
News live: Australian health officials to work on ebola outbreak response, minister says; NSW police arrest 993 in domestic violence sweep 17. May 2026 (23:55) World Health Organization declared outbreak in Africa a ‘public health emergency of international concern’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMurray Watt, the federal environment minister, says he expects Australian health officials will be working with other countries as the world responds to the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.The World Health Organization declared the event a “public health emergency of international concern” on Sunday, urging robust global efforts to limit its spread.I’m sure that our health officials will be working with other countries in terms of the response to this. You know, I think we’ve seen previously around the world outbreaks of Ebola have been of great concern to the world. So as I say, I’m sure that some of our officials in the health department would be working with their international counterparts about this as well. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Crime increasingly a ‘serious barrier’ to UK growth, say business leaders 17. May 2026 (23:30) British Chambers of Commerce survey shows firms ‘are dealing with rising levels of theft, fraud and cyber-attacks’UK business leaders have warned that crime is becoming an increasingly “serious barrier” to growing Britain’s economy amid a rise in shoplifting, fraud and cyber-attacks against companies.The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which represents tens of thousands of businesses across the country, called on the government to provide “a step change in the support businesses can count on” as it said two-fifths of companies had experienced some form of crime in the past year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
