Labour must put policy first, politics second, Tony Blair says 27. May 2026 (11:32) Former PM urges party to take a step back and ‘analyse the world’ amid speculation over Keir Starmer’s leadershipUK politics live – latest updatesTony Blair has continued his attack on the Labour government, saying it should be about “policy first, politics second”.Hours after he published a scathing essay in which he warned that the party’s “almost infinite capacity for self-delusion” meant it was likely to lose the next election, the former prime minister said it should “take a step back, analyse the world”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lidl overtakes Morrisons to become fifth largest supermarket in Great Britain 27. May 2026 (11:30) German-owned discounter’s sales rise 8.8% year on year as households seek ways to keep bills downLidl has overtaken Morrisons to become the fifth largest grocer in Great Britain as its sales were powered ahead by households seeking to keep a lid on their weekly bills.The German-owned discounter increased its sales by 8.8% year on year – making it the fastest-growing store-based grocer – to hit a record high market share of 8.6% over the 12 weeks to 17 May, according to figures from the market analysts Worldpanel by Numerator. That compared with an 8.3% share for Morrisons in the period as the Bradford-based chain grew its sales by only 1.3% compared with a year earlier. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jillian Segal hired former Scott Morrison adviser on $200,000 contract without public tender process 27. May 2026 (11:14) Company founded by Yaron Finkelstein received contract to advise on antisemitism under a limited tender ‘due to an absence of competition’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, hired Scott Morrison’s former principal adviser on a $200,000 contract without a public tender process, with department officials saying his skills could not be provided by any other business.Society Advisory Pty Ltd, the company founded by Yaron Finkelstein – Morrison’s former principal private secretary – received the 12-month contract to work with Segal until April 2027, coinciding with the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian BTS fans blast Ticketmaster’s ‘predatory’ tactic of hiding price until tickets go on sale 27. May 2026 (10:08) Consumer think-tank says K-pop fans should know the prices before being sent into a ‘high-pressure sales funnel’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian fans of the K-pop group BTS are accusing the ticketing giant Ticketmaster of deploying “predatory” and “crazy” tactics, and have urged people to lodge formal complaints with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).Ticketmaster Australia announced concerts at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Sydney’s Accor Stadium in February 2027 as part of the South Korean boyband’s comeback tour after a four-year hiatus. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK nurses and midwives who should have been banned have worked for last 12 years 27. May 2026 (09:00) Exclusive: Nursing and Midwifery Council admits it did not carry out checks on professionals who broke the lawNurses and midwives who should have been banned from treating patients have practised over the last 12 years because of “potentially dangerous” failings by a medical regulator.The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has admitted that its “completely and utterly unacceptable” mistakes meant it failed to protect the public from about 15 professionals whom it should have banned from ever working in healthcare in the UK because they had broken the law. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It’s getting hotter and it’s not stopping’: dealing with the heat in five of Europe’s capitals 27. May 2026 (09:00) Tourists and locals in Madrid, Paris, London, Dublin and Berlin share their experiences of the unseasonable May temperaturesIn recent days across parts of Europe, temperatures have soared, heat records have been broken and spring has felt more like the height of summer. Météo France, the French national weather service, has attributed this to a “heat dome”, with warmth held in place by a high-pressure weather front that has produced temperatures more than 10C above what used to be usual for this time of year.Human-caused climate breakdown is supercharging extreme weather around the world, driving deadly extremes that can strike at abnormal times in unusual places and claim lives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gina Rinehart bankrolls purchase of 10% stake in Seven network owner Southern Cross Media 27. May 2026 (08:24) The $26m deal involving media executive Bruce McWilliam signifies return to media business for mining billionaire after previous holdings in Fairfax and TenFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, has bankrolled former Seven media executive Bruce McWilliam’s acquisition of an almost 10% stake in Southern Cross Media, which owns the Seven Network, the Triple M and Hit radio brands and West Australian Newspapers.While the unusual arrangement – worth about $26m – does not give Rinehart a direct stake in Southern Cross, she could take control of the shares if McWilliam breaches the terms of their deed, which was published on the ASX on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BHP admits to stalled emissions reductions as WA premier says miners have ‘moral obligation’ to decarbonise 27. May 2026 (08:23) Head of BHP’s WA iron ore operations unable to give firm timeline for replacing diesel trucks as leaked documents reveal decarbonisation delayRead more from the BHP files investigation hereGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA senior BHP executive has admitted the Australian multinational’s push to reduce emissions has been delayed as the Western Australian premier, Roger Cook, said big miners had an “important moral obligation” to decarbonise.An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to the Guardian and ABC revealed this week that the world’s biggest miner has hit the brakes on decarbonisation, something experts fear could put Australia’s national emissions reductions targets at risk. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Energy price cap in Great Britain to rise by 13% from July 27. May 2026 (08:02) Average gas and electricity bill to jump to £1,862 a year from July until end of September, in part because of Iran warHouseholds will face the steepest summer rise in energy charges in four years after months of soaring market prices caused the government’s energy price cap for Great Britain to climb by 13%.Under the cap the average gas and electricity bill will increase to the equivalent of £1,862 a year from July until the end of September to take account of the rise in global energy market prices caused by the war on Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kiln-free recycled tile startup agrees pilot deal with major UK supplier 27. May 2026 (08:00) Dekiln to scale up its low-carbon technology with Johnson Tiles, in boost for struggling British ceramics industryA Manchester-based startup that makes ceramic-like tiles from waste without needing an energy-hungry kiln has teamed up with one of the UK’s biggest tile suppliers to launch a pilot project to scale up the technology.Dekiln, run by the biomaterials engineer Aled Roberts, is joining forces with Johnson Tiles to set up a trial manufacturing site in Stoke-on-Trent, the historic home of British ceramics. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
