A painting by Dame Judi Dench was sold for £6,900 at a charity auction in Surrey. The money raised will help support the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre’s creative learning programs for young people and vulnerable community members.
Key Facts
The painting by Dame Judi Dench sold for £6,900 at the charity event in Guildford.
The auction was part of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre’s "Supper With The Stars" event.
Proceeds from the auction will fund the theatre’s creative learning program for youth and vulnerable people.
Dame Judi Dench painted the watercolour of the Scottish Highlands in 2025, one of her last works due to eyesight issues.
Other auction items included a collar and bow tie worn by Sir David Suchet as Poirot (£650), a piano lesson with Simon May (£700), and an Albert Square sign signed by EastEnders cast (£275).
The event raised over £65,000 in total for the theatre.
The theatre plans to expand its youth theatre program in September, hoping to provide free places for half of the participants.
The theatre’s programs support people facing financial difficulties, young carers, and those with special needs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Despite ongoing problems like war with Iran, high oil prices, inflation, and trade tensions under President Trump, the US stock market has not only recovered from recent losses but is growing strongly. Investors remain confident partly because they believe the government and Federal Reserve will step in to help if financial trouble worsens.
Key Facts
On 27 March, the Dow and Nasdaq fell more than 10% from their peak due to rising oil prices and war concerns with Iran.
By 13 May, the situation with Iran showed little improvement, but stock markets were thriving.
Nasdaq has increased about 11% since the start of the year, driven by tech investments, especially in AI.
The Dow and S&P 500 indexes are close to their record high levels.
Investors expect President Trump to soften extreme policies, like tariffs, which has lessened market fears (called “Taco”).
Economists believe markets are confident because they expect federal government and Federal Reserve support during financial crises.
Inflation remains high at 3.8% in April, affecting lower-income Americans more than wealthier ones.
Recent bank failures showed risks in the financial system, partly because of weak regulation and supervision.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nine California mayors have threatened to sue the California High-Speed Rail Authority over a plan to take a share of local tax revenue and control zoning near future rail stations. The cities say this plan could reduce funds for local services and interfere with local government control. The rail authority says it only wants part of new tax increases to support the rail project and infrastructure.
Key Facts
Nine mayors from California cities, including Fresno, oppose the High-Speed Rail Authority’s plan.
The plan would capture tax growth and zoning control within half a mile of new rail stations.
Cities worry this will reduce money for public safety, transportation, and other essential services.
The High-Speed Rail Authority says it will only take a share of future tax increases (called tax-increment financing).
Tax-increment financing uses increased tax revenue from rising property values near development to fund projects.
Mayors argue the proposal may be unconstitutional and could harm local government finances.
The rail project has faced financial challenges and delays for years.
Officials warn that a legal fight over funding could further complicate the project’s progress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
SpaceX is planning to start selling its shares to the public soon, which could value the company at about $2 trillion. This event is causing changes in stock market rules, especially for very large companies, to allow them to join key stock indexes faster than before.
Key Facts
SpaceX may have an initial public offering (IPO) next month, possibly valued at $2 trillion.
Similar big tech companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are also expected to go public this year with combined values estimated at $5 trillion.
The S&P 500 index may change its rules to let SpaceX join its list of top companies faster.
Proposed rule changes include removing the profit requirement, reducing the waiting time from 12 to 6 months, and lowering the minimum public share offering from 10% to 5%.
These changes would make it easier for huge companies to get included in major stock indexes, forcing index funds to buy their shares.
Some experts criticize the rule changes, saying they might unfairly favor big companies and early investors.
The Nasdaq already changed its rules to fast-track SpaceX into its Nasdaq 100 index.
If approved by May 28, the new rules would start on June 8, just before the IPO.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Fashion designer Jonathan Anderson presented Dior’s Cruise collection in Los Angeles, aiming to strengthen the brand’s connection to Hollywood and the film industry. The show featured classic Dior styles with a fresh, movie-inspired twist and marked the start of Dior’s broader plan to mix fashion, commerce, and cinema.
Key Facts
Jonathan Anderson is the creative director of Dior and also works as a costume designer for films by Luca Guadagnino.
The Dior Cruise collection show took place at the David Geffen Galleries in Los Angeles.
The show’s theme referenced Dior’s historical ties to Hollywood, including dressing stars like Marlene Dietrich.
The collection included updated versions of Dior classics, such as the bar jacket styled as a white tuxedo.
The show combined American and Hollywood influences, featuring vintage cars and iconic street lamps on the runway.
Anderson plans to expand Dior’s involvement in film through costume design and partnerships with movie franchises.
Men’s shirts in the collection were designed in collaboration with Los Angeles-based artist Ed Ruscha.
The event reflects a trend where fashion brands use “Cruise” shows for marketing and storytelling beyond traditional seasonal collections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined a group of business leaders meeting with President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting aimed to discuss easing restrictions on selling Nvidia’s computer chips to China.
Key Facts
Jensen Huang is the CEO of Nvidia, a company that makes chips used in artificial intelligence (AI).
He attended a summit with President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The visit included several U.S. business leaders accompanying President Trump.
Nvidia hopes the meeting will lead to lifting trade limits on chip sales to China.
Restrictions on chip sales have affected Nvidia’s business with China.
The summit is part of broader talks on trade, technology, and rare earth resources.
Other news alongside this event includes a Chinese oil tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz and Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Library of Congress added 25 important music and audio recordings to its National Recording Registry to preserve them for future generations. These new additions include Taylor Swift’s album "1989," Beyoncé’s song "Single Ladies," and works by artists like Ray Charles, The Go-Go’s, and others, spanning many genres and formats including video game soundtracks.
Key Facts
The National Recording Registry selects audio recordings important to America’s culture, history, and artistic heritage.
Taylor Swift’s 2014 album "1989" was added as the most recent recording from the 21st century on the list.
Beyoncé’s 2008 hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is also included from the 21st century.
Other new additions feature music by Ray Charles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Paul Anka, The Go-Go’s, and jazz musician Oliver Nelson.
The registry now contains 700 recordings, part of the Library’s larger collection of nearly 4 million audio items.
The selections cover many music styles such as jazz, rock, pop, country, R&B, and Broadway.
The soundtrack of the video game "Doom" was also added, showing the diversity of recordings preserved.
People can nominate recordings to be added to the Registry in the future.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The war in Iran is causing oil prices to rise, which is increasing inflation and affecting the global economy. At the same time, the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is causing more demand for electricity, which puts strain on power grids, especially in the United States.
Key Facts
The war in Iran has led to higher oil prices, with energy costs up 18% compared to last year.
Higher oil prices contributed significantly to the 3.8% rise in the Consumer Price Index in April.
AI data centers require large amounts of electricity, causing concerns about the ability of power grids to meet demand.
The U.S. grid watchdog issued a high-level warning about potential power system strain due to AI growth.
While U.S. electricity supply is not directly affected by the Iran war, power prices are rising partly because of increased demand from data centers.
Rising energy prices could increase public dissatisfaction and political challenges for policymakers.
Data centers contribute more to power demand growth in the U.S. than in other countries.
Energy availability and cost are crucial factors influencing economic growth and global stability.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ted Turner changed television news by creating CNN in 1980, offering news 24 hours a day for the first time. In 1987, Turner faced financial problems and nearly made a deal with NBC, which would have changed the cable news industry significantly.
Key Facts
Before CNN, TV news was limited to three networks and about 22 minutes each evening.
CNN started in 1980, creating 24-hour news coverage.
Ted Turner personally lobbied Congress for cable laws favoring his business.
In 1987, Turner struggled financially after buying the MGM Film Library.
Major cable companies helped Turner avoid financial collapse in 1987.
NBC, led by General Electric, planned to buy 25% of Turner Broadcasting to launch a new channel called TNT.
The deal included combining CNN’s foreign news with NBC News.
This partnership aimed to ease NBC’s entry into the cable business, facing opposition from cable operators.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Britain’s economy grew by 0.3% in March 2026, beating expectations and making it the fastest growing economy in the G7 for the first quarter. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said this shows the government’s economic plan is working and warned against making risky changes during uncertain times.
Key Facts
The UK economy grew 0.3% in March 2026, better than the expected 0.2% decline.
Overall growth for the first three months of 2026 was 0.6%, up from 0.1% in the last quarter of 2025.
Britain leads the G7 countries in economic growth in early 2026.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves aims to keep economic policies steady to avoid risks.
Some Labour Party members are preparing leadership bids amid internal debate.
Economists worry that growth may slow later in the year, with risks from the Middle East conflict.
The Bank of England may raise interest rates because of inflation, affecting loans and business costs.
Rising energy prices and the cost of living crisis continue to pressure British households.
The Iran war could reduce household incomes by about £550 in 2026 and increase government debt by £16 billion by 2030.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A war involving the US and Israel against Iran has caused problems in the supply of oil-based raw materials needed by Japanese companies. This has led Calbee, a popular Japanese snack maker, to temporarily use black-and-white packaging on some of its products because color inks have become hard to get and more expensive.
Key Facts
The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil transport.
Japan gets 40% of its naphtha, a type of oil product needed to make printing inks, from the Middle East.
Calbee will change the packaging of 14 products, including its potato chips, to black and white starting May 25 to manage ink shortages.
Japanese government officials say they are working to find alternative suppliers and have increased imports from outside the Middle East.
Ink producers in the US and Germany have raised prices due to higher costs for raw materials and energy linked to the conflict.
Naphtha is used in many products including inks, plastics, synthetic rubber, petrol, and industrial solvents.
The conflict has caused a global supply shock affecting costs and availability of oil-based materials.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses recent changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) payments. A finance expert, Laura Pomfret, explains how these changes affect the payments individuals receive.
Key Facts
PIP stands for Personal Independence Payment, which helps people with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
Changes to PIP payments have been made recently.
Laura Pomfret, a finance expert, provides explanations about the new rules.
The information was shared on a BBC program called Morning Live.
The video explaining the changes is available with subtitles on BBC iPlayer.
The article was published 22 minutes ago.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year, mainly due to a strong services sector. Growth in March was 0.3%, higher than expected, and construction also started to recover after a difficult end to last year.
Key Facts
The UK economy grew by 0.6% between January and March.
Monthly growth in March was 0.3%, stronger than analysts predicted.
The services sector, including wholesale, computer programming, and advertising, led the growth.
Construction returned to growth but only partly made up for earlier losses.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revised some previous monthly growth estimates downward.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government’s economic plan is on track to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
These figures reflect the first full month with data during the Iran war period.
Economic data can be updated as new information becomes available.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Asian stock markets had mixed results after President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss U.S.-China relations and Taiwan. Investors are watching for the impact of the summit and global factors like rising oil prices caused by the ongoing war in Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump and President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
No major breakthroughs were expected from the U.S.-China summit on trade or Taiwan issues.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.3%, reaching near-record levels during the day.
South Korea’s Kospi increased by 0.5%, helped by technology stocks.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng went up 0.7%, while Shanghai’s index fell 0.9%.
Oil prices rose due to the continued conflict in Iran, with Brent crude at $106.04 per barrel.
Investors are watching possible effects of China using its influence with Iran to reopen key oil shipping routes.
Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and other tech leaders accompanied President Trump on his China visit to discuss advanced technology exports.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An Australian court found that supermarket Coles misled customers with its "Down Down" discount campaign by showing fake price reductions. Coles changed its rules for how long a higher "was" price had to stay before dropping prices to create discounts, which made some deals misleading.
Key Facts
Coles runs the "Down Down" promotion, which claims products are cheaper than before.
The court ruled Coles misled shoppers by showing discounts that were not genuine.
Coles had rules ("guardrails") requiring products to be sold at the higher "was" price for a set time before a discount.
In 2022, Coles shortened the time from 12 weeks to 4 weeks to match competitor Woolworths' practice.
Customers reported items with supposed discounts that were actually more expensive recently.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found hundreds of products affected.
The court noted Coles changed its practices due to pressure from Woolworths, its main rival.
Coles may face fines of tens of millions of dollars and might have to change how it promotes discounts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK economy grew by 0.3% in March 2026, despite the start of the Iran war at the end of February. This growth was stronger than expected and driven mainly by services like computer programming and advertising, along with a return to growth in construction.
Key Facts
UK GDP grew 0.3% in March 2026, exceeding forecasts of a 0.2% decline.
Growth in the first quarter of 2026 was 0.6%, higher than 0.1% in the last quarter of 2025.
Services sector led growth, especially computer programming and advertising industries.
Construction sector returned to growth in March.
Iran war started on February 28, 2026, causing oil and gas prices to rise sharply.
Retail sales increased in March, even after removing the effect of rising fuel costs.
Bank of England warned of likely higher interest rates due to rising inflation linked to the war.
Inflation rose from 3.0% in February to 3.3% in March, influenced by increased fuel prices.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK is facing rising borrowing costs as political uncertainty grows with the possibility of another change in prime minister. Investors fear that a leadership challenge to Labour’s Keir Starmer could increase government borrowing and lead to a repeat of the 2022 bond market crisis during Liz Truss’s brief time as prime minister.
Key Facts
The interest rate on 30-year UK government bonds briefly rose to 5.8%, the highest since 1998.
Political instability in the UK has raised fears among investors about higher government borrowing.
Keir Starmer, the Labour leader and prime minister, faces a potential leadership challenge.
Investors warn that increased borrowing without clear economic growth could hurt market confidence.
Some Labour MPs show frustration with current tight tax and spending policies but are aware of financial market risks.
The UK’s national debt is about 100% of GDP, the highest since the 1960s.
Rising global interest rates and geopolitical issues, like the Iran war, have increased the cost of UK debt.
Analysts say any new leader would still face significant spending pressure and high taxes, limiting policy options.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A woman in rural Cornwall had trouble depositing a £900 cheque from HMRC because it could not be scanned by her bank’s app and the Post Office no longer accepts cheque deposits for Lloyds Banking Group customers. She must now travel long distances to a bank branch or use a mail-in service, which she feels is inconvenient and unfair for rural residents. Lloyds said cheque use is very low and offered alternatives like mobile app deposits and freepost services.
Key Facts
Annabel Yates from Cornwall received a £900 HMRC cheque that could not be deposited online.
The cheque lacked perforated edges, so it would not scan in the banking app.
Lloyds Banking Group stopped allowing cheque deposits at the Post Office in January 2024.
Yates faces a 75 to 94-mile trip to the nearest Lloyds branches in Okehampton or Truro.
Lloyds offers cheque deposits via their app, any branch, or a freepost (mail) service.
Yates is concerned about sending large cheques by post and feels rural customers are disadvantaged.
The Post Office reports many customers are frustrated by losing the cheque deposit service.
Lloyds says cheque payments make up only 0.1% of UK payments and are declining in use.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Yindjibarndi traditional owners in Western Australia are thinking about appealing a federal court decision that ordered mining company Fortescue to pay $150 million in compensation for cultural and economic losses from mining activities on their land. The court recognized the deep connection of the Yindjibarndi people to their land but awarded less economic compensation than they had requested.
Key Facts
Fortescue must pay $150 million to Yindjibarndi traditional owners for cultural and economic damages related to its Solomon Hub iron ore mine.
This is the largest compensation payout in native title history in Australia.
Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) originally sought $1.8 billion, including amounts for cultural damage, economic loss, site destruction, and social impacts.
The court based its economic loss calculation on the value of freehold land, not on mining royalties as YNAC had argued.
The Solomon Hub mine has generated about $80 billion in revenue since it started but was approved without permission from the Yindjibarndi traditional owners.
The Western Australian government supported Fortescue in limiting compensation, opposing the Yindjibarndi claim.
YNAC’s CEO Michael Woodley said the judgment was a partial win but still unsatisfactory, and they plan to continue fighting for recognition of their rights.
The Yindjibarndi people gained exclusive native title rights to the land in 2017 after filing their claim in 2003.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Australia’s federal court ruled that supermarket chain Coles misled customers with fake discount promotions by raising prices before sales. The court found that most of the discounted items were not genuine savings, and Coles may face large penalties.
Key Facts
The court case was brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Coles advertised “Down Down” promotions on 245 products between February 2022 and May 2023.
The court found that 13 out of 14 tested products did not show real discounts.
For a discount to be genuine, the higher price must be in place for at least 12 weeks before the sale.
One product, Nature’s Gift Dog Food, was found not to be misleading because it had no previous “was” price.
A similar case is underway against Woolworths, Coles’ main competitor, over misleading discounts.
Both supermarkets hold about two-thirds of Australia’s grocery market.
Coles said it is reviewing the judgment and called for clear rules to avoid future legal issues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
