Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Victoria state budget 2026: state back in black forecasting two back-to-back surpluses

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T19:00:30+00:00

Labor’s 2026-27 budget shows state has recorded $700m surplus this financial year, first of its kind since before the Covid-19 pandemicGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria is back in black for the first time since the start of the pandemic, with Tuesday’s state budget to deliver an operating surplus and forecasting another next financial year.The 2026-27 budget, to be handed down on Tuesday afternoon, will show the state recorded a $700m surplus in 2025-26, largely in line with December’s pre-budget update of $710m and an improvement on the $611m forecast last Ma

Discussion
•••

Victoria state budget 2026: state back in black and forecasting two back-to-back surpluses

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T19:00:30+00:00

Labor’s 2026-27 budget shows state has recorded a $700m surplus this financial year, the first since before the Covid-19 pandemicFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria is back in black for the first time since the start of the pandemic, with Tuesday’s state budget to deliver an operating surplus and forecasting another next financial year.The 2026-27 budget, to be handed down on Tuesday afternoon, will show the state recorded a $700m surplus in 2025-26, largely in line with December’s pre-budget update of $710m

Discussion
•••

Cabinet ministers warn mutinous MPs over ousting Keir Starmer

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:59:53+00:00

Labour leadership challenge in wake of disastrous local poll results could unleash chaos in party, MPs warnedCabinet ministers have warned mutinous Labour MPs that any attempt to oust Keir Starmer after a potentially disastrous set of election results this week would unleash chaos for the party that would not be easily overcome.However, several told the Guardian that even with the prime minister’s determination to stay in Downing Street after Thursday’s vote, the mood on the backbenches was febrile and events could yet spiral out of control. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Cabinet ministers warn mutinous MPs about trying to oust Keir Starmer

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:59:53+00:00

Labour leadership challenge in wake of disastrous local poll results could unleash chaos in party, MPs toldCabinet ministers have warned mutinous Labour MPs that any attempt to oust Keir Starmer after a potentially disastrous set of election results this week would unleash chaos for the party that would not be easily overcome.However, several told the Guardian that even with the prime minister’s determination to stay in Downing Street after Thursday’s vote, the mood on the backbenches was febrile and events could yet spiral out of control. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Middle East crisis live: Trump warns Iranian forces they will be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if they target US ships

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:51:53+00:00

US president’s comment echoes threat that ‘whole civilisation will die’ as tension over strait of Hormuz ramps up againDonald Trump sends warships to break Iran’s strait of Hormuz blockadeWe have a bit more of the statement from Maj Gen Ali Abdollahi, the commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, who said earlier that the US or any other foreign armed forces would be attacked if they entered the strait of Hormuz (see post at 07.39 for more details). Abdollahi also said:We will maintain and vigorously manage the security of the strait of Hormuz with all our might, and we inform

Discussion
•••

Україна оголошує режим тиші з 6 травня, - Зеленський

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-05-04T18:50:00+00:00

Зеленський оголосив про запровадження режиму тиші  / фото УНІАНУкраїна оголошує режим тиші з 00:00 у ніч із 5 на 6 травня. Про це повідомив президент України Володимир Зеленський. Глава держави зазначив,...

Discussion
•••

Florida’s Republican governor signs state’s new congressional map into law

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:46:22+00:00

Ron DeSantis approves maps that give Republicans an advantage in four more races in November’s midtermsUS politics live – latest updatesFlorida governor Ron DeSantis signed a new gerrymandered congressional district map into law Monday which gives Republicans an electoral advantage in four additional races in November’s midterm elections.“Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,” DeSantis said in a post on X, with a map of the new districts attached. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Fire causes ‘substantial damage’ to Book of Mormon theater in New York

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:39:54+00:00

‘Deep-seated fire’ forces temporary closure of Eugene O’Neill Theatre, which is home to the long-running musicalSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA fire broke out Monday in the Broadway theater that hosts the The Book of Mormon, forcing the long-running musical to close, at least temporarily, as the historic venue undergoes repairs.The blaze, which began in an electrical room, caused “substantial damage” to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, according to David Simms, New York fire department assistant chief. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Starmer lauds £78bn EU loan for Ukraine amid increased Trump tensions

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:37:07+00:00

Prime minister uses European Political Community summit to begin negotiations for UK participation in schemeKeir Starmer has said the benefit of joining the European Union’s £78bn loan scheme for Ukraine “outweighs the cost” as he argued the continent must move at pace to bolster its own defence.The prime minister, who said the UK’s involvement in the recovery loan plan would also help create jobs at home, acknowledged that tensions are high between Donald Trump and Europe, particularly over military issues. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Here’s the latest.

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:33:27+00:00
Discussion
•••

Elections en Ecosse : à Falkirk, Reform UK tire profit des mobilisations antimigrants

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-05-04T18:30:07+00:00

Tandis que des élections régionales ont lieu jeudi 7 mai en Ecosse et au Pays de Galles, des militants d’extrême droite ont su rallier largement autour de mots d’ordre hostiles aux demandeurs d’asile dans une région jusqu’alors réputée pour être accueillante.

Discussion
•••

De l’Elysée à la société Archange, l’intrigante nébuleuse de militaires et d’ex-militaires suspectés d’avoir compromis des documents secret-défense

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-05-04T18:30:04+00:00

La justice enquête sur plusieurs militaires et civils soupçonnés d’avoir monté une société privée pour vendre informations classifiées et armes de guerre. Six suspects sont désormais mis en examen, notamment pour compromission du secret de la défense nationale, après la garde à vue d’un ancien collaborateur de l’Elysée le 13 avril.

Discussion
•••

Elections en Ecosse : à Falkirk, Reform UK tire profit des mobilisations antimigrants

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-05-04T18:30:02+00:00

Tandis que des élections régionales ont lieu jeudi 7 mai en Ecosse et au Pays de Galles, des militants d’extrême droite ont su rallier largement autour de mots d’ordre hostiles aux demandeurs d’asile dans une région jusqu’alors réputée pour être accueillante.

Discussion
•••

Итоги торгов на Мосбирже 4 мая

Source: Vedomosti – All Articles · Published: 2026-05-04T18:24:17+00:00

Главный бенчмарк российского фондового рынка по итогам основной сессии в понедельник, 4 мая, снизился на 1,41% до 2620,82 пункта. Его долларовый аналог индекс РТС снизился на 2,24% и составил 1094,42 пункта.

Discussion
•••

Donald Trump sends warships to break Iran’s strait of Hormuz blockade

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:19:43+00:00

US operation announced as ‘Project Freedom’ dramatically raises stakes in conflictMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US has launched Donald Trump’s bid to open a route through the strait of Hormuz for hundreds of ships trapped with their crews in the Gulf, in a move that brought the region back to the brink of full-scale war as Iran sought to reassert its blockade.The US operation, which got under way on Monday after being announced as “Project Freedom” by Trump on Sunday night on his social media site, dramatically raised the stakes in a conflict that had been in a month-long period of unea

Discussion
•••

Rapper Kid Cudi fires MIA from tour after ‘offensive’ Republican rant

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:19:14+00:00

The British artist was booed after identifying as a Republican voter while on stage in DallasRapper Kid Cudi has fired MIA from his tour after the British artist went on a rant that went viral while on stage in Dallas.While opening up for the hip hop artist on 2 May, MIA was booed after saying: “I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter,” as reported by Variety. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Middle East crisis live: US says it has blown up number of Iranian boats in strait of Hormuz

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:16:23+00:00

UAE says it has intercepted three Iran fired drones; US denies that Iran hit warship near strait of HormuzTrump says US navy will ‘guide’ trapped ships from strait of Hormuz amid ‘very positive’ talks with IranWe have a bit more of the statement from Maj Gen Ali Abdollahi, the commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, who said earlier that the US or any other foreign armed forces would be attacked if they entered the strait of Hormuz (see post at 07.39 for more details). Abdollahi also said:We will maintain and vigorously manage the security of the strait of Hormuz with all ou

Discussion
•••

Florida governor Ron DeSantis signs state’s new congressional map into law – live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:15:14+00:00

Florida is the latest state to have redrawn districts in effort to boost Republican seats from 20 to 24Sign up for the Breaking News US emailThe supreme court issued a temporary order to restore access to the abortion pill mifepristone by mail on Monday.This comes after two companies who manufacture mifepristone the drug filed an emergency appeal to the court on Saturday asking it to halt a court decision that would require an in‑person exam before the medication can be prescribed. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Several New York City synagogues and homes vandalized with swastikas

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T18:05:42+00:00

Police are searching for at least four individuals responsible for ‘terrifying signals of hatred and threats of violence’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxSeveral synagogues and homes in the New York borough of Queens were vandalized overnight Monday with swastikas, according to the city council speaker.On Monday, Julie Menin, along with other city council members including Lynn Schulman and Phil Wong, visited Congregation Machane Chodosh, one of the sites targeted in Forest Hills. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

« Le drame du Mali interroge directement les échecs de l’armée française au Sahel »

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-05-04T18:00:07+00:00

Le vacillement de l’armée malienne face aux djihadistes révèle un impensé de l’opération « Barkhane », à savoir l’inefficacité des coopérations militaires de la France avec des armées africaines, estime, dans une tribune au « Monde », le politiste Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, spécialiste de la région.

Discussion
•••

Guerra Ucraina - Russia, news. Putin annuncia due giorni di tregua per V-Day

Source: Repubblica Homepage · Published: 2026-05-04T17:58:12+00:00

Il presidente russo nomina capo delle Forze aeree il generale sanzionato dall’Ue per crimini contro l’umanità. Quattro morti in un raid di Mosca nella regione di Kharkiv. Von der Leyen: esigenze di Kiev più urgenti che mai

Discussion
•••

Car-ramming incident kills at least two people in Germany

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-05-04T17:57:42+00:00

Police in Leipzig 'don't know ⁠anything about the culprit' but have arrested the driver and say ​danger is over.

Discussion
•••

Strikes in U.A.E., Oman and at Sea Strain Iran Truce to the Breaking Point

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-05-04T17:48:54+00:00

The drone and missile attacks were the first of their kind since the U.S.-Iranian cease-fire began last month. They coincided with reported clashes between American and Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Discussion
•••

Rudy Giuliani breathing on his own after being hospitalized for pneumonia

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-05-04T17:47:29+00:00

Former New York City mayor, who was placed on ventilator, is also being monitored, a spokesperson saidRudy Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, is breathing on his own after being hospitalized with pneumonia and placed on a ventilator, his spokesperson said Monday.Giuliani, 81, remains in critical but stable condition at a Florida hospital and is being monitored as a precautionary measure, Ted Goodman, a spokesperson, said. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Modi’s B.J.P. Wins West Bengal State Election for the First Time

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-05-04T17:46:12+00:00

The party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took control of West Bengal for the first time and made gains around the country. Its defeated opponents accused it of cheating.

Discussion
•••

Iran fires on U.S. ships in Strait of Hormuz, in threat to ceasefire

Source: Washington Post - World · Published: 2026-05-04T17:43:52+00:00

The attacks followed the passage of U.S. warships and merchant vessels through the waterway despite Iran’s threats against attempts to “interfere” in the strait. 

Discussion
•••
news

Editorial wall of the news flow

A query on the internal database produces an ordered selection of articles, ready for reading and discussion.