Independent News & People Network Desk of News

France serves up €1 meals to all university students in bid to cut hardship

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:16:26+00:00

Ministers take action after survey showing almost half of students had gone without food for financial reasonsFrench universities have begun offering €1 meals to all students regardless of income in a measure designed to address financial hardship.Student unions have been pushing to extend the €1 rate – down from the usual €3.30 – for a three-course meal to all students, which was previously only available to those with low incomes or receiving financial aid. Continue reading...

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France serves up €1 meals to all university students in effort to cut hardship

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:16:26+00:00

Ministers take action after survey shows almost half of students had gone without food for financial reasonsFrench universities have begun offering €1 (86p) meals to all students regardless of income in a measure designed to address financial hardship.Student unions have been pushing to extend the €1 rate – down from the usual €3.30 – for a three-course meal to all students, which was previously only available to those with low incomes or receiving financial aid. Continue reading...

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Middle East crisis live: Hegseth gives Iran war update amid growing tensions in strait of Hormuz

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:07:20+00:00

US defence secretary giving news conference from the PentagonDonald Trump sends warships to break Iran’s strait of Hormuz blockadeIran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is travelling to Beijing later today for talks with his Chinese counterpart “on bilateral relations and regional and international developments”, his ministry said on its Telegram account.While Beijing condemned the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran which started the war in late February, China has largely adopted a posture of neutrality ever since and has urged for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Continue readi

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Police investigate suspected arson attack at former synagogue in east London

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:06:33+00:00

Minor damage to gates is believed to have been caused by fire that CCTV shows was started deliberately, Met saysCounter terrorism police are investigating whether a fire at a former London synagogue is part of an arson campaign linked to Iran.Police said the latest fire broke out at the building on Nelson Street, in east London. The synagogue, which is of cultural significance to London’s Jewish community, had been disused since 2020, and a Muslim group had recently been trying to buy it. Continue reading...

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London Marathon sets new record after 1.8% of UK adult population applies for 2027 race

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:06:24+00:00

Over one million entries received from UK runnersLondon also sets record with 1.3m total applicationsThe London Marathon has set yet more records with organisers announcing that 1.8% of the UK adult population – more than one million people – have applied to run in next year’s race.Running’s boom was also reflected in a world record 1,338,544 global application for the 2027 London Marathon – up from 1.13m for this year’s race and more than double the amount they received in 2024. Continue reading...

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London Marathon sets record after 1.8% of UK adult population applies for 2027 race

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:06:24+00:00

Over one million entries received from UK runnersLondon also sets record with 1.3m total applicationsThe London Marathon has set yet more records with organisers announcing that 1.8% of the UK adult population – more than one million people – have applied to run in next year’s race.Running’s boom was also reflected in a world record 1,338,544 global application for the 2027 London Marathon – up from 1.13m for this year’s race and more than double the amount they received in 2024. Continue reading...

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UK’s long-term borrowing costs hit highest level since 1998

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:05:12+00:00

Rise in bond yields due to fuel prices and stability concerns will eat away at Rachel Reeves’s fiscal headroomBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government’s long-term borrowing costs have hit their highest level since 1998, amid rising fuel prices and concerns about political stability.The yield – effectively the interest rate – on 30-year UK government bonds (gilts) hit 5.76% at lunchtime on Tuesday, up 0.11 percentage points – exceeding the 27-year high reached last autumn. Continue reading...

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Pixxel bags US NRO contract to deliver hyperspectral imaging capabilities

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-05-05T12:03:31+00:00

The contract will be executed by Pixxel’s US federal team and is part of a broader push by the NRO to incorporate commercial data providers into its intelligence framework.

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Nifty slips as Rupee hits record low; Hormuz fears keep crude elevated

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-05-05T12:03:30+00:00

Nifty 50 ended at 24,032.80, down 86.50 points or 0.36% with as a record-low rupee, surging crude oil prices; Sensex fell 251.61 points or 0.33% to settle at 77,017.79

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Albanese government abandons beleaguered inland rail project connecting NSW with Queensland

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T12:00:38+00:00

Originally envisioned to run 1,700km from Melbourne to a port near Brisbane, the mega infrastructure project will now only connect Beveridge in Victoria to Parkes in NSWGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government will drastically scale back the beleaguered inland rail project, abandoning plans to connect country NSW and Queensland by rail, as the price tag blows out to more than $45bn.Originally envisioned to run 1,700km from Melbourne to a port near Brisbane, the mega infrastructure project will now only connect Beveridge, on the outskirts of Melbourne,

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Les industries vertes chinoises profitent de la guerre au Moyen-Orient

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-05-05T12:00:12+00:00

La flambée des prix des hydrocarbures liée aux tensions autour du détroit d’Ormuz accélère la demande mondiale pour les technologies chinoises de la transition énergétique, renforçant l’avance industrielle de Pékin en matière de véhicules électriques et panneaux solaires.

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Julius Baer names Kunal Sumaya interim India Head as CEO exits

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-05-05T11:46:08+00:00

Sumaya brings 17 years of experience at Julius Baer, having held senior roles including Team Head and Group Head before leading the firm’s global NRI business

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Odisha and West Bengal’s contrasting growth paths

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-05-05T11:45:12+00:00

Odisha has made rapid strides in growth and fiscal health, but lagged in social development. Bengal fares better in human development, but needs to reignite growth and industry

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Badenoch says Farage ‘not someone who plays by the rules’ after revelation of undisclosed £5m donation – UK politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T11:40:02+00:00

‘I don’t understand why somebody who works in crypto gives this sort of personal gift, as Farage calls it, and then all of a sudden Farage is promoting crypto’, the Conserative party leader saidKemi Badenoch has questioned whether the undisclosed £5m donation given to Nigel Farage by a crypto billionaire shows that he has been “bought”.In an interview with the Today programme this morning, the Conservative leader asked whether the donation was linked to Farage’s support for cryptocurrencies, and she said the donation showed why Farage could not be trusted as a political leader.Let’s see, I bel

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En Roumanie, le Parlement renverse le premier ministre libéral, Ilie Bolojan, après une alliance entre les sociaux-démocrates et l’extrême droite

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-05-05T11:37:31+00:00

Cette alliance entre les sociaux-démocrates et l’extrême droite pour faire tomber le libéral Bolojan a été vivement critiquée par les forces démocratiques du pays, qui accusent le PSD de contribuer à légitimer une extrême droite en plein essor.

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Romanian government collapses after losing no confidence vote – Europe live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-05T11:31:16+00:00

The move puts the country’s access to EU funds at riskAnd here it is: 281 votes in favour of the motion, meaning Ilie Bolojan’s pro-EU coalition government lost the confidence of the parliament.The result was welcomed with loud applause from those present. Continue reading...

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