Minnesota deploys national guard to help fight wildfires in northern region 17. May 2026 (23:10) Tim Walz, the state’s governor, calls blazes ‘unpredictable and fast-moving’ as dry, windy weather fuels themMinnesota’s national guard has been activated to help battle wildfires burning in the northern part of the state after the department of natural resources requested additional support.Governor Tim Walz authorized the deployment by issuing an executive order that declared a peacetime emergency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Air force base in Idaho locked down after air show incident, officials say 17. May 2026 (22:45) Emergency crews responding to incident involving aircraft during weekend air show at military base in western IdahoAn investigation is under way after an incident on Sunday at an air show at Mountain Home air force base in western Idaho, a spokesperson told Reuters.A social media post by Airshow News said that two EA-18G Growler jets crashed 2 miles from Mountain Home air force base during the Gunfighter Skies air show. Following the midair collision, four parachutes were seen deployed, Airshow News said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands gather on National Mall in Washington DC for daylong prayer rally 17. May 2026 (21:47) White House-backed event billed as ‘One Nation Under God’ criticized for blurring lines between church and stateThousands of people streamed on to the National Mall for a daylong prayer rally on Sunday billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation Under God”.Against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, worship music blared from a stage that made clear the event’s Christian focus. Arched stained-glass windows, set underneath grand columns resembling a federal building, depicted the nation’s founders alongside a white cross. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UAE blames Iran or its proxies for drone strike fire near nuclear plant 17. May 2026 (21:33) Abu Dhabi denounces ‘dangerous escalation’ as Iran war ceasefire grows more precarious The United Arab Emirates has blamed a fire near its nuclear power plant on a drone launched by Iran or one of its proxies in what the UAE called a “dangerous escalation”.The fire was just outside the Barakah nuclear plant and caused no injuries or radiation alerts, with the emirate’s nuclear regulator saying there was no radioactive leak or risk to the public. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham faces perilous race to win Makerfield byelection, allies say 17. May 2026 (20:39) Reform, which won more than 50% of the local election vote, is likely to focus heavily on immigration and BrexitAndy Burnham faces a perilous race to win the Makerfield seat, his allies have warned, as he gears up to fight a byelection that could decide the long-term future of Labour and the country.The Greater Manchester mayor is likely to be confirmed as Labour’s candidate for the north-west constituency later this week, but those close to him say he faces an uphill battle to beat Reform UK. Nigel Farage’s party won more than 50% of the vote at the local elections and polling suggests Burnham is only marginally ahead. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France’s top film producer says it will blacklist figures who petitioned against rightwing billionaire 17. May 2026 (20:37) Canal+ head says he will not work with hundreds of actors and directors who signed protest against Vincent Bolloré’s political swayThe head of France’s biggest film producer, Canal+, has said the group will no longer work with hundreds of cinema figures who signed a petition voicing concern over the growing influence of the rightwing billionaire owner Vincent Bolloré.The open letter, published earlier this week to coincide with the opening of the Cannes film festival, was signed by more than 600 figures, including the actor-director Juliette Binoche, the director and photographer Raymond Depardon, the French-Iranian film-maker Sepideh Farsi and the director Arthur Harari, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall and is premiering his film The Unknown in the main competition in Cannes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump attacks Massie as Republican critic describes ‘desperate’ attempts to oust him from primary 17. May 2026 (19:27) US president writes ‘vote the bum out’ as congressman faces close race against Trump-endorsed RepublicanWith two days to go before the next big test of Donald Trump’s iron grip over his party, the president went head-to-head on Sunday with his nemesis, Thomas Massie the Kentucky congressman who is in a fight for his political life in Tuesday’s Republican primary.Over an eight-hour period starting in the early hours of Sunday, Trump took to his bully pulpit on Truth Social to taunt Massie, one of very few senior Republicans who has dared to defy him. Massie is the “worst and most unreliable Republican Congressman in the history of our Country”, the rant began, followed by a mid-morning exhortation to Kentucky voters to “vote the bum out on Tuesday”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
London mayor criticises plans for north of England bid to host Olympics 17. May 2026 (19:24) Excluding capital would be ‘missed opportunity’, says Sadiq Khan, given existing assets and ‘world-class infrastructure’The mayor of London has criticised plans to explore a bid for the north of England to host the Olympics, saying that excluding London would be a “missed opportunity”.Ministers have commissioned an assessment by UK Sport which could inform a bid for the international sporting event in the 2040s. If the campaign were successful, it would be the first time the Olympic Games and Paralympics were hosted in Britain since London 2012. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A quiet belief everything’s going to be all right’: Bulgarians celebrate Dara’s Eurovision win with Bangaranga 17. May 2026 (19:01) Bulgaria’s first-ever win in European song contest delivers ray of hope at turbulent time after years of political instabilityBulgarians have rejoiced in their country’s first victory at the Eurovision song contest as fans welcomed home the singer whose party anthem Bangaranga proved an unexpected breakthrough hit.“Dara is yet more proof that Bulgaria can win,” declared the new prime minister, Rumen Radev, of Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, known simply as Dara. He hailed “a young artist who, thanks to her talent and professionalism, has managed to rise above all the complexities and prejudices surrounding the [Eurovision] voting process”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sons of jailed Saudi scholars urge Cambridge to drop plans to train Riyadh staff 17. May 2026 (17:30) Exclusive: Families of men facing death penalty join opposition to proposals to run courses for defence ministryThe families of two scholars facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia have appealed to the University of Cambridge to drop proposals to run staff training courses for Riyadh’s defence ministry.The Guardian revealed last week that Cambridge’s Judge business school has been authorised to offer “leadership development” and “innovation management” training for the Saudi defence ministry’s staff, despite internal opposition within the university over the kingdom’s record on human rights and academic freedom. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
