Farage under mounting pressure to prove Russian hack claim 24. May 2026 (17:46) Reform UK leader claims ‘counter-espionage experts’ suggest state-sponsored hackers are behind the disclosure of £5m giftNigel Farage is under mounting pressure to provide evidence for his claim that a state-sponsored Russian hack was behind the disclosure of the £5m gift he received from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.Reform UK claimed over the weekend that analysis of Farage’s phone by “counter-espionage experts” suggested that “Farage’s phone, email and bank accounts were compromised by hostile actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, using spear phishing tactics”, before the Guardian revealed details of his undeclared gift last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor urged to use anti-corruption commission appointment to restore public confidence in watchdog 24. May 2026 (17:00) Helen Haines says ‘the clock is ticking’ on replacing deputy commissioner Nicole RoseFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA key architect of the National Anti-Corruption Commission says parliament should consider new merit-based and independent selection processes for major appointments, urging the Albanese government to use an existing vacancy to restore public confidence in the watchdog.Independent MP Helen Haines, who helped craft legislation to establish the Nacc, sits on its parliamentary oversight committee. She said “the clock is ticking” on replacing deputy commissioner Nicole Rose, who announced her resignation this month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We’re concerned’: US-based prediction markets taking bets on Australian elections and Albanese’s word choices 24. May 2026 (17:00) Regulators and gambling harm advocates have been closely watching the rise in popularity of Polymarket and KalshiGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastUS-based “prediction market” websites are taking tens of thousands of dollars in bets on Australian elections and even specific words the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says in parliament, with gambling harm advocates and the wagering lobby raising alarm.Australian financial and media regulators said they were monitoring the explosion in popularity of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, which operate financial exchanges where users buy “shares” in contracts on the outcome of events. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Warrants for defendants skipping court in England and Wales up 50% since 2020 24. May 2026 (17:00) Former justice secretary Alex Chalk KC says figures Channel 4 obtained show the ‘horror show’ in the systemAlmost 60,000 arrest warrants were issued for defendants who skipped court in England and Wales last year, up nearly 50% since 2020 in further evidence of the “horror show” in the criminal justice system.The figures, obtained in an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches to air on Friday, also show that more than 30,000 failure-to-appear warrants are outstanding, meaning that tens of thousands of criminals could be on the run after being charged. It is unclear how many have more than one warrant to their name. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Pompeii, but in the middle of a massive city’: the ice age fossil site hidden in Los Angeles 24. May 2026 (17:00) La Brea Tar Pits – the only urban, active ice age excavation site in world – gets a mammoth face lift for the first time in nearly 50 yearsLos Angeles is known for famous museum such as the Getty and the Lacma, but perhaps fewer people are aware that – in the heart of the city – lies a museum that contains one of the world’s most remarkable fossil sites.The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is home to the remains of more than 2 million ice age flora and fauna, including mastodons and saber-toothed cats, that became trapped in oily pools that still bubble up today. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces police investigation into ‘alleged inappropriate behaviour at Royal Ascot’ 24. May 2026 (16:59) Incident said to have happened at racing event in 2002, year of queen’s Golden Jubilee, according to Sunday TimesPolice investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are looking into an allegation that he behaved inappropriately towards a woman at Royal Ascot, according to a report.The alleged incident is said to have happened at the annual five-day racing event in Berkshire in 2002, according to the Sunday Times. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican hawks warn of ‘disastrous mistake’ as Trump nears deal with Iran 24. May 2026 (16:51) Trump insists US won’t rush talks with Tehran after rebukes from Republicans, including Ted Cruz and Lindsey GrahamRepublican hawks have issued a rare rebuke of Donald Trump over his planned peace deal with Iran, describing it as a “disaster” and questioning why the US president launched the war in the first place.Allies of Trump who strongly backed his controversial decision to order war on Iran alongside Israel urged him to “hold the line” this weekend, despite mounting economic costs and no sign of progress on many of the the initial objectives set out by his administration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
David Miliband: Europe and US need ‘separate bedrooms’ but not divorce 24. May 2026 (16:25) Former Labour minister says complete disengagement has potential ‘for us to end up in a very, very difficult position’David Miliband has said Europe should have “separate bedrooms” from the US, but not seek a “divorce” from its traditional alliance, despite the Trump administration’s impact on the relationship.The former Labour foreign secretary, who has served as the president of the International Rescue Committee since 2013, said at the Hay literary festival on Sunday: “You can see the argument that strategic autonomy for Europe means divorce from the United States. I really counsel the dangers of that. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Suicide bombing near railway track in Pakistan kills at least 23 people 24. May 2026 (16:22) Explosives-laden vehicle detonated as passenger train travelled through south-western city of QuettaA suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a railway track as a passenger train travelled through the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 70 others, officials have said.The force of the explosion on Sunday caused two of the train cars to overturn and catch fire, sending thick black smoke into the air, according to footage shared online. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia hits Kyiv with hypersonic ballistic missile in ‘deranged attack’ 24. May 2026 (14:59) At least four people died and dozens of others were injured in the attack Russia used its powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for a third time in Ukraine as part of a massive attack on Kyiv and its surrounding region that killed at least four people and injured dozens.Russia hit the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region with the missile, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He described a Russian assault that hit a water supply facility, burnt down a market, damaged dozens of residential buildings and several schools, as well as the Oreshnik missile strike. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
