UK records hottest day of year as forecasters warn of more extreme heat 23. May 2026 (21:58) Temperature reaches 30.5C in Kent as amber health alerts issued before bank holiday temperatures riseThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 30.5C in Kent as forecasters warned more extreme heat could follow over the bank holiday weekend.The temperature in Frittenden also marked the first time since 2012 the UK has reached 30C in May, according to the Met Office. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New breed of political prisoner arises in Britain as anti-protest sentences rise 23. May 2026 (18:00) More people are being jailed in England and Wales as a result of acting to prevent climate breakdown and the war in Gaza, research revealsBritain has created a new breed of political prisoners through the systematic incarceration of people acting to prevent climate breakdown and the annihilation of Gaza, a report claims.The research by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the protest group Defend Our Juries says that custodial sentences for acts of direct action or civil disobedience were once rare but are now being imposed with increasing length and frequency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
GLA considering investigation into Zack Polanski over houseboat council tax 23. May 2026 (17:36) Official assessing formal complaint into Green party leader’s potential ‘breach of conduct’ as assembly memberLondon assembly officials are weighing up whether to launch an investigation into Zack Polanski after he admitted he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a houseboat in the capital.The Green party leader has faced questions over whether the houseboat, moored in east London, was his primary residence. A spokesperson for his party had described the situation as an “unintentional mistake” and said Polanski had “immediately taken steps” to pay any tax owed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Stephen Colbert hosts Michigan public access show day after last appearance on Late Show 23. May 2026 (17:28) Guests on Only in Monroe included Jack White and Jeff Daniels, with appearances by Steve Buscemi and EminemAfter his last appearance on CBS as host of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert continued his television hosting duties – on a public access show in Michigan.Colbert on Friday night hosted Only in Monroe in Monroe, Michigan, just one day after signing off from The Late Show. Colbert had been the host of The Late Show since 2015 and his tenure came to an end this week after CBS canceled the 33-year-old network staple, due to a “financial decision” by CBS’s parent company, Paramount. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran hosts Pakistani delegation amid diplomatic flurry to avert new US strikes 23. May 2026 (17:21) Tehran negotiator says there will be no compromise over its ‘legitimate rights’ during meeting with Pakistani army chiefIran’s top negotiator has said there will be no compromise over its national rights during a meeting with the Pakistani army chief in Tehran on Saturday, amid a flurry of diplomacy aimed at preventing renewed US strikes on Iran.Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, said Tehran would secure its “legitimate rights”, whether through the battlefield or through negotiations, while accusing the US of not being an honest negotiating partner, Iranian state media reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three dead and 18 first responders sickened by apparent fentanyl exposure in New Mexico 23. May 2026 (17:19) First responders hospitalized and decontaminated after four people were found apparently overdosingThree people died and 18 first responders were sickened by exposure to fentanyl in a rural New Mexico home this week, New Mexico state police said.Police initially found four people unconscious at the home in Mountainair, 90 miles (145km) east of Albuquerque. Two were declared dead at the scene and a third died at a hospital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House pauses removal of detainees to the DRC as Ebola outbreak widens 23. May 2026 (16:33) But Trump administration will not return detainees deported to third countries in disease-struck regionThe Trump administration will temporarily pause the removal of refugees to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a spiraling Ebola outbreak, according to reporting by Politico, but experts say the move won’t help prevent the spread of the disease.At least one woman is now in limbo after officials moved her to Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, and now say they won’t bring her back because of the Ebola travel ban – despite a judge’s order for her return. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump's justice department scrubs its website of news releases about January 6 defendants 23. May 2026 (16:23) Department of Justice acknowledges the removal of news releases about criminal cases related to 2021 Capitol attackThe Department of Justice is acknowledging it has removed from its website news releases about criminal cases related to the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack, calling the information about the prosecutions “partisan propaganda”.The purge of news releases documenting criminal charges, convictions and sentencings is the latest step by the Trump administration to dramatically rewrite the history of the assault on the US Capitol, when hundreds of supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building in an effort to halt the congressional certification of his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Extra EU border checks suspended at Dover as travellers face delays in heat 23. May 2026 (16:10) Wait times of more than two hours reported at terminal for cross-Channel ferry to FranceFrench police have temporarily suspended extra EU border checks at the port of Dover as thousands of holidaymakers face long delays in the hot weather.Waiting times of more than two hours were reported at the terminal in Kent for the cross-Channel ferry to France. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How big tech got its way on Trump’s AI executive order 23. May 2026 (16:00) The US president’s reversal on calling for a safety review of new AI models is a green light for tech’s unchecked powerOnly hours before Donald Trump was set to sign a long-awaited executive order on Thursday that would have called for a government safety review of new artificial intelligence models before their release, the president abruptly backed out. Despite growing public backlash to the technology and experts warning new models will pose critical security risks, Trump vowed the US government would not slow down the AI race.During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Trump cited both American dominance and competition with China and as his reasoning behind the reversal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
