Grayson Perry’s life story to be told in ‘outrageous’ musical 19. May 2026 (14:22) Grayson the Musical will explore ‘identity, creativity and self-acceptance … with life coaching from a six-foot teddy bear named Alan’Grayson Perry’s life story is to be told in an “outrageous” new stage musical co-created with the composer of Jerry Springer: The Opera.Grayson the Musical is a portrait of the artist from his childhood in Chelmsford to his international fame as a Turner prize-winning ceramicist, tapestry-maker and frock-lover. As well as fabulous dresses, the show will include a supporting role for Alan Measles, the beloved teddy bear who has featured in Perry’s work. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Old Spanish Hen? Estrella owner buys Greene King ale brand 19. May 2026 (14:13) Pub owner’s sale to Barcelona-based brewer Damm is latest takeover of a British beer by an overseas buyerBusiness live – latest updatesPub chain Greene King has agreed to sell its Old Speckled Hen ale brands to the Spanish owner of Estrella lager, making it the latest in a series of British beers to be snapped up by overseas buyers.Barcelona-based brewer Damm has agreed to buy all the Old Speckled Hen lines, including its non-alcoholic and golden ale versions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New report reveals sharp rise in online sale of primates on social media in US 19. May 2026 (12:00) Researchers found over 1,600 primates listed for sale on Facebook, TikTok and more over a six-week period in 2025A new report from leading wildlife and conservation organizations has revealed a sharp rise in the online sale of primates across major social media platforms in the US, raising concerns about wildlife trafficking, public safety and animal welfare.The report, titled Primates for Purchase: The Surge in Sales on Social Media in the US, was released Tuesday by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Louisiana payout cannot erase pain of Ronald Greene death by police – lawyer 19. May 2026 (12:00) Ben Crump says $4.85m police settlement over fatal traffic stop helps to show how ‘truth must always come to light’“No amount of money can erase” the pain that motorist Ronald Greene’s death at the hands of Louisiana police inflicted on his loved ones, but a $4.85m settlement which the state has agreed to pay his family helps illustrate how “the truth must always come to light”, their attorney has said.Ben Crump recently expressed those sentiments in a statement that served as one of his and his clients’ first public reactions to news first reported by the Guardian that mediation talks on 12 May had yielded a settlement between Louisiana authorities and Greene’s family. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Six US states hold primaries as Trump urges Kentucky voters to oust Massie 19. May 2026 (12:00) Republican critic of president faces challenge from Ed Gallrein, while Georgia and Pennsylvania hold key contestsThe biggest day of primaries yet arrives Tuesday, with voters in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Idaho, heading to the polls to select candidates ahead of November’s midterm elections.While many primaries will be resolved with little drama, some have shaped up to be among the most contentious elections of the year so far, serving as gauges of Donald Trump’s control of Republicans, and the direction Democratic voters are looking to steer their party as they seek to retake control of Congress. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bid to form centre-right minority government in Denmark after weeks of stalemate – Europe live 19. May 2026 (11:47) Leader of the Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen, hoping to govern with support of the Conservatives and the Liberal AllianceNordic correspondentTroels Lund Poulsen, the leader of the centre-right Danish Liberal Party (Venstre), has shocked the political establishment with a surprise announcement in which he said he wants to form a right-leaning minority government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Trump claims Iran attack ‘on hold’ due to request from Gulf allies 19. May 2026 (11:45) The US president said he called off a planned attack on Iran on Tuesday so that peace talks could continueFull report: Trump claims planned attack on Iran postponed after Tehran makes new proposal to end warEleven Australians attempting to deliver aid to Gaza as part of a global flotilla have been detained by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Cyprus, with the government “urgently seeking” confirmation of their welfare.On Monday local time, the Global Sumud Flotilla alleged the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) encircled 38 ships that were part of a fleet of 54 boats which left Turkey last week for the embattled strip, which remains under naval blockade by Israel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US claims ‘emergency refugee situation’ as it admits 10,000 more white South Africans 19. May 2026 (11:43) Trump has repeatedly made false claims that white Afrikaners facing genocide with costs of resettling them at $100mThe US government has said it will increase the number of white South Africans it admits as refugees this year from about 7,500 to 17,500, claiming that “unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation.”Since starting his second term in office last year, Donald Trump has repeatedly made false claims that white Afrikaners are racially targeted and face a “white genocide”, which South Africa’s government has furiously rebutted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
WHO head ‘deeply concerned’ by Ebola outbreak as cases and deaths rise in DRC 19. May 2026 (11:03) At least 130 people thought to have been killed, says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus before emergency meeting‘It’s heartbreaking’: panic in eastern DRC over return of EbolaThe director general of the World Health Organization has said he is deeply concerned about the scale and the speed of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there had been at least 500 suspected cases of Ebola and 130 suspected deaths in DRC since the new outbreak began. Thirty cases had been confirmed in DRC’s north-eastern province of Ituri, and one death and one case had been confirmed in Kampala, Uganda, he added. A US citizen has also tested positive and been transferred to Germany. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Standard Chartered to cut more than 7,000 jobs as it steps up AI use 19. May 2026 (10:31) London-headquartered bank will reduce back-office jobs and aims to move some workers to new rolesBusiness live – latest updatesStandard Chartered plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs over the next four years as it increasingly uses artificial intelligence.The London-headquartered lender is one of the first major global banks to lay out plans to cut thousands of jobs, citing AI as a driver to make its operations slimmer as it seeks to increase its profitability and tackle competition. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
