Carlo Petrini, Slow Food movement founder, dies aged 76 22. May 2026 (13:14) Italy’s president leads tributes to campaigner who spent four decades promoting sustainability and local cuisineCarlo Petrini, the journalist who founded the Slow Food movement in protest against the arrival of the first McDonald’s in Italy, has died aged 76.Petrini, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in recent years, died in his home town of Bra in northern Italy’s Piedmont region. He had led Slow Food, which since 1986 has campaigned against fast-food culture by promoting sustainability and local cuisine, as president until 2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Full-on summer heat’: western Europe braces for unusually high temperatures 22. May 2026 (13:01) Portugal, Spain, France and UK expected to exceed 30C on Friday and into next week, with new May records predictedEurope live – latest updatesA large swathe of western Europe is bracing for the first significant heat event of the summer, with temperatures forecast to rise to more than 10C above the norm and new monthly records for May expected to be set in possibly hundreds of places.Temperatures across Portugal, Spain, France and the UK were expected to exceed 30C (86F) on Friday and into next week, reaching 32C in Paris and London and 35C in south-west France, with highs of up to 38C in the Guadiana and Guadalquivir regions of Spain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UN’s climate crisis vote shows political momentum is growing, say experts 22. May 2026 (12:27) Resolution backed by 141 states hailed as ‘new chapter’ that could improve climate diplomacy and litigation effortsWhen the UN general assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of a landmark climate crisis ruling on Wednesday, the Pacific island of Vanuatu’s prime minister hailed the result as the start of “a new chapter” in climate action.“The task before all of us now is to translate legal clarity into meaningful action, stronger cooperation, and greater protection for present and future generations,” said Jotham Napat. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Local US newspaper workers allege Hearst is trying to ‘destroy unions’ 22. May 2026 (12:00) Media company says it is ‘committed to good faith bargaining’ amid claims including contract violationWorkers at local newspapers owned by Hearst allege the company is trying to “destroy unions” amid claims of widespread anti-union tactics, including violating union contracts and bad-faith bargaining.The Albany Newspaper Guild, which represents the Times Union newspaper in Albany, New York, said it had been more than 17 years since the union had a contract and there had been little progress toward reaching a new one. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuelan makeup artist who was deported to El Salvador seeks asylum in Spain: ‘I feel safe here’ 22. May 2026 (12:00) Andry José Hernández Romero was deported from the US to El Salvador’s notorious Cecot prison before he was allowed to return to VenezuelaOne of the Venezuelan men sent from the US to El Salvador’s most notorious prison by Donald Trump has moved to Spain to request asylum after concluding that he did not feel safe back home and did not trust US authorities sufficiently to return to fight his legal case.Andry José Hernández Romero left Venezuela for Spain in early February and is due for his first asylum hearing in court there in a few days, hoping that the country’s liberal approach to immigration will afford him kinder treatment than the US or his own country had provided him, he revealed to the Guardian in his first interview since leaving for Europe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham launches byelection campaign as Green candidate quits after just nine hours – UK politics live 22. May 2026 (11:54) Andy Burnham addressing supporters as he officially launches campaign to be Labour candidate for MakerfieldAndy Burnham has welcomed supporters at his campaign launch, telling them “this means the world to me”.“Hope is in the air, can you feel it?” he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s ‘disappointment’ with Nato lays groundwork for ‘one of the most important’ summits ever, Rubio says – Europe live 22. May 2026 (11:25) The US secretary of state said that leaders will have to respond to Trump’s ‘disappointment’ with the alliance’s ‘response to our operations in the Middle East’Rubio begins with thanks to Sweden for hosting the ministerial meeting.But that’s where the niceties end as says the upcoming Ankara summit will be “one of the more important leaders’ summit in the history of Nato,” as the leaders will have to respond to Trump’s “disappointment” with the alliance’s “response to our operations in the Middle East.”“That will have to be addressed, that won’t be solved or addressed today. That’s something for the leaders level to discuss.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US arms sales to Taiwan on ‘pause’ due to Iran war, says acting navy chief 22. May 2026 (11:08) Hung Cao’s comments are latest blow to Taipei after Donald Trump recently cast doubt over US’s enduring supportUS arms sales to Taiwan have been “paused” to ensure the US military has enough munitions for its Iran operations, according to Washington’s acting navy secretary, in the latest blow to Taipei after a series of comments by Donald Trump.When asked at a congressional hearing on Thursday about a $14bn (£10.4bn) weapons packageawaiting Trump’s signoff for months, Hung Cao said: “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury [the Iran war] – which we have plenty.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tennessee school board member charged after calling teenage girl ‘hot’ 22. May 2026 (11:00) Keith Ervin, 59, was charged with assault after he told a student ‘God – you’re hot’ at a public meeting in AprilAn east Tennessee school board member who told a teenage girl, “God – you’re hot,” on video at a public meeting in April has been charged with assault.State prosecutors on 18 May charged 59-year-old Keith Ervin under a Tennessee statute that outlaws “intentionally or knowingly [causing] physical contact with another [that] a reasonable person would regard … as extremely offensive or provocative”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK borrows more than forecast in April as inflation adds to benefits bill 22. May 2026 (10:55) The £24.3bn figure comes amid rising cost of pensions as bond market jitters take monthly debt interest to £10.3bnBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK borrowed more than expected in April as high inflation drove up the cost of pensions and benefits, amid concern over the Iran war and political uncertainty adding to debt costs.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing – the difference between government spending and income – was £24.3bn in April 2026, £4.9bn higher than in April 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
