Nationwide customer seeking election to board hits out at lender for ‘unfair’ treatment 29. May 2026 (17:10) James Sherwin-Smith says field tilted against him after decision to give members ‘quick vote’ against candidacyA Nationwide customer seeking election to the building society’s board has criticised the lender for “unfair” treatment and undermining democratic governance after it said it would tell members to vote against him.James Sherwin-Smith said Nationwide had tilted the field against him after it confirmed it would give members a default “quick vote” option that included a vote against his candidacy at the annual meeting in July. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former senior CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars from agency 29. May 2026 (17:07) David Rush’s trial for allegedly taking 303 gold bars and $2m in foreign currency from agency was pushed to next weekUS politics live – latest updatesA senior intelligence operative accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40m and hiding them at home remained in custody in Virginia on Friday after a judge pushed his first court appearance to next week.David Rush, a former executive service-level employee for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is alleged to have taken 303 bullion bars, each weighing 2.2lb (1kg), and more than $2m in foreign currency, from his government office, according to an eight-page FBI affidavit. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Can the second coming of Tony Abbott resurrect the Liberal party? Or is it another step towards ‘self-destruction’ 29. May 2026 (17:00) Angus Taylor believes the former PM is uniquely placed to help the party as its new president, but some fear he will render it even more unelectableGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastImmediately after ousting Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor used his first press conference as opposition leader to debut a slogan he hoped would define a new era of Liberal conservatism.“The door must be shut,” Taylor said of his approach to prospective migrants who didn’t subscribe to Australia’s “core beliefs”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
First of trapped men rescued from flooded Laos cave 29. May 2026 (17:00) Man is ‘safe and sound’ after perilous operation, leaving four inside a small chamber and two still to be locatedThe first of seven men who have been trapped in a flooded cave in Laos for more than a week has been brought to safety by divers, in a perilous rescue mission that has required teams to crawl through narrow, deluged tunnels, navigating sharp rocks and collapse hazards.Four men remain inside a chamber about 300 metres (980ft) from the cave entrance, where they were found crouched and huddled together on a rocky ledge by rescuers on Wednesday. Two men are yet to be located. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Eight students rescued after being stuck at top of rollercoaster for hours in Texas 29. May 2026 (16:12) Group was unharmed after dangling for almost four hours on ride that malfunctioned at Pleasure Pier in GalvestonEight students were rescued unharmed after dangling for hours at the top of a rollercoaster ride that became stuck in Texas.Pictures and news footage of the incident showed a rollercoaster car stalled at the peak of a huge almost vertical drop on the Iron Shark rollercoaster overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pam Bondi admits to ‘redaction errors’ in Epstein files release during House testimony 29. May 2026 (16:06) Ex-attorney general defends her handling of the release of files related to the late sex offender US politics live – latest updatesThe former attorney general Pam Bondi is testifying before the US House oversight and reform committee this morning to answer questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its release of the Epstein files under her leadership.In Bondi’s prepared opening statement, obtained by the Guardian, she defended the department’s record under her leadership, saying: “We demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to transparency in the department’s search for, collection and review of the Epstein files.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fire in train car near New York City’s Penn Station injures five and disrupts service 29. May 2026 (15:02) Amtrak car caught fire in Hudson River tunnel resulting in overhead wire damage, according to New Jersey TransitA fire in a rail yard train car near New York’s Penn Station injured five people and disrupted service for many commuters early on Friday, authorities said.The fire resulted in train delays on the New Jersey Transit and Amtrak rail services into New York and briefly suspended Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service, more than a week after a strike had shut down that system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bank of England’s Bailey says no rush to raise interest rates amid Iran war uncertainty 29. May 2026 (14:49) Inflation can be tolerated above 2% target for now ‘given context of softness in real economy’, governor saysBusiness live – latest updatesThe Bank of England is in no rush to raise interest rates while the outcome of the Iran war remains uncertain and the UK’s growth rate stays weak, the governor, Andrew Bailey, said.In a signal that borrowing costs will remain at 3.75% at least during the summer, Bailey said it was tolerable for inflation to stay above the Bank’s 2% target during the current crisis. However, that would change if a more permanent increase in prices began to take effect. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US designates Brazil’s two largest gangs as terrorist organizations 29. May 2026 (14:31) Announcement by Marco Rubio is being widely seen as setback for Brazil’s president, and a boost for his far-right challengerThe United States has designated Brazil’s two largest criminal gangs, the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command, as foreign terrorist organisations.The announcement, made by Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, on Thursday, is being widely seen in Brazil as a setback for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president who had strongly opposed the designation – and a boost for Lula’s main challenger in October’s presidential election, the far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Student awarded CBS News scholarship explains why he called out network at event: ‘I had to do it’ 29. May 2026 (14:00) Santiago Campos says he felt obligated to criticize the network’s direction, which ‘stains legacy of Mike Wallace’Standing in front of the most powerful and well-known people in the television news business on Wednesday night, in a glitzy New York City ballroom, 18-year-old high school student Santiago Campos shocked – but also delighted – many in attendance when he called out the network that funded the scholarship he received: CBS News.Campos, a graduating senior at the District of Columbia international school who had traveled to New York for the 47th annual news and documentary Emmy awards with his mother and teacher, was awarded the Mike Wallace memorial scholarship, honoring the legendary television interviewer. Campos was given the award by veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, who said: “Mike would see something of himself in this year’s recipient.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
