News 05/05/26

A Dutch cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak is to sail to the Canary Islands, according to Spain.

The health ministry says officials are deciding which passengers need urgent evacuation from Cape Verde, where the vessel is docked. Remaining passengers will continue to the islands, expected within three to four days, with no port confirmed. Three passengers have died after the MV Hondius left Argentina around a month ago.

Hate crime prosecutions are to be fast tracked following a series of antisemitic incidents, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson has told prosecutors in England and Wales to bring charges more quickly to tackle daily incidents involving threats and abuse against the Jewish community. He said law enforcement must recognise a period of crisis following recent attacks and arson cases.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says there was no obligation to declare a five million pound gift from a billionaire backer before he became an MP.

He said donor Christopher Harborne gave the money in early 2024 to cover security costs. Labour and other parties have accused him of breaking parliamentary rules and the Conservatives have referred him to the standards commissioner. Farage said the gift was private and not political.

Pete Hegseth says the United States has established what he described as a powerful red, white and blue dome over the Strait of Hormuz.

He said American destroyers are on station, supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones and surveillance aircraft, providing round the clock overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels. He also issued a series of direct messages to Iran, US allies and American troops.

The World Health Organisation says medical teams have boarded the MV Hondius cruise ship during a hantavirus outbreak to evacuate two people.

Reuters reports the WHO believes there may have been some human to human transmission among close contacts on board. It adds the assumption is that people were infected off the vessel before joining the cruise.

A murder investigation has been launched after a man injured in a shooting in south London died.

Police were called to Coldharbour Lane in Brixton at fourteen minutes past one on the second of May after reports of multiple shots fired. The victim has been named as twenty five year old Keanu Taylor. Three others, aged twenty one, forty seven and seventy, were also taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life threatening.

Sir Keir Starmer says attempts by Iran to destabilise British society will not be tolerated.

He is hosting a summit in Downing Street on tackling rising antisemitism following last week’s attack in north London. Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green. A man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and a third count relating to a separate incident on the same day.

India has condemned an attack on an oil facility in the UAE which left three Indian nationals injured, calling it unacceptable.

The UAE says a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone following an Iranian drone attack, while Tehran denies planning the strike and blames US military adventurism in the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable.

Celebrities have arrived at the 2026 Met Gala showcasing their interpretations of this year’s theme, Costume Art.

Organisers encouraged guests to experiment with a lavish and whimsical dress code at the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The event is known for bold fashion statements from stars and major design houses. Broadway performer Joshua Henry opened proceedings with a performance of I Wanna Dance With Somebody, accompanied by a band and dancers on the venue’s steps.

Iran’s foreign minister says recent events in the Strait of Hormuz show there is no military solution to a political crisis.

Abbas Araghchi made the comments on social media after an alleged incident in the waterway prompted conflicting accounts. Iranian state media claimed a US warship was hit with missiles and prevented from entering the strait. The US military says no ships were struck, while Donald Trump says two US flagged merchant vessels successfully passed through the area.

Sir Keir Starmer has warned a rise in attacks against British Jews is a crisis for all of us and needs a whole of society response.

He is due to meet senior figures from across public life to discuss growing antisemitism. The issue has been highlighted by a terror attack in north London. Essa Suleiman has been charged with attempted murder after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, an incident which also saw the UK terror threat level raised to severe.

Around two pubs a day closed in the first three months of the year, according to industry figures.

The British Beer and Pub Association says one hundred and sixty one shut permanently, leading to about two thousand four hundred job losses. That is a twenty six percent rise on the same period last year. The group blames tax increases and rising labour costs, including higher minimum wages. Wales was the only part of the UK to see a net gain, with numbers rising slightly.

Record levels of exploitation have been reported in the UK, driven by the rising cost of living and new technology.

More than twenty three thousand potential victims of modern slavery were referred in twenty twenty five, a twenty two percent increase and the highest number recorded. A new report warns trafficking, forced labour and sexual exploitation will become harder to detect without urgent action. More than a fifth of potential victims were from the UK.

The government has set out plans to keep Britain flying this summer amid concerns over jet fuel shortages linked to the Middle East conflict.

Measures from the Department for Transport aim to protect holidays and avoid last minute cancellations. The proposals will go through a rapid consultation and have already proved controversial.