New York City sued over alleged racial discrimination in removal of children by protective services 29. May 2026 (14:00) Plaintiffs say children’s services uses ‘emergency removal’ disproportionately against Black and Latino familiesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailOn Thursday, two families filed a class-action lawsuit against the city of New York, alleging that the administration for children’s services (ACS) abuses its emergency removal power to take children from their parents without a court order. The families say that Black people and Latinos are disproportionately affected by the practice.The “emergency removal” power is supposed to be used only in extreme and urgent situations in which there is not enough time to obtain a court order. Instead, the lawsuit alleges, the ACS is using a racially discriminatory emergency removal policy that allows the agency to bypass judicial review. The policy, which separates parents from their children, can cause lasting harm to the families that are affected. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mutual retailer triples boss’s pay to £2.2m despite fall in profits 29. May 2026 (13:58) OurCoop criticised by members after withholding annual profit-share payment despite soaring executive payOurCoop, an independent mutual that runs about 500 food stores across England, is facing criticism from members after it more than tripled its chief executive’s pay to £2.2m despite falling sales and profits.The chain, which is a separate company from the Co-op Group but relies on the much bigger business to supply some products, has not approved an annual profit-share payment to members this year, although they have received discounts on shopping. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hungarian police approve Budapest Pride in break from Orbán era 29. May 2026 (13:56) Policy U-turn comes after rightwing nationalist government was swept from power in April after 16-year ruleEurope live – latest updatesPolice in Hungary have said they will allow next month’s Pride parade in Budapest to take place, signalling a reversal from last year when they sought to block the event on the orders of the government of the rightwing former prime minister Viktor Orbán.Last year’s march made headlines around the world after Orbán’s Fidesz party backed legislation – the first of its kind in the EU’s recent history – that created a legal basis for Pride events to be banned, citing a widely criticised need to protect children. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s former attorney general to face closed-door questioning from House committee over Epstein files – live 29. May 2026 (13:45) Lawmakers to have fresh chance to dig for information on Trump administration’s handling of Epstein case by grilling Pam BondiSign up for the Breaking News US emailVice-president JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are close to agreeing a deal to extend their ceasefire in the Middle East war, but the potential breakthrough still hangs on president Donald Trump’s approval.Trump remained notably silent into Friday morning, despite US sources telling AFP a deal just needed his sign-off, underscoring the volatility of talks three months after the war rattled the Middle East and the global economy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cause of deaths of three sisters found in sea at Brighton still unclear, inquest hears 29. May 2026 (13:35) Medical investigations ongoing ‘to finalise the cause of death’ but police say they do not suspect foul playThe cause of the deaths of three sisters found in the sea off Brighton beach is yet to be ascertained but police say they do not suspect foul play at this stage.The bodies of Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, from Uxbridge, west London, were found earlier this month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘This is so pathetic’: Reform and Restore Britain lock horns in Makerfield byelection buildup 29. May 2026 (13:24) Spurred on by Elon Musk, the two rightwing parties spent the week taking potshots at each other. We look back at who hurled which insult at whomUK politics live – latest updatesIt’s been a week of rudeness, rows and revelations in the Makerfield byelection. Not between Andy Burnham and his challengers for the seat – but between Reform UK and its even more rightwing rival, Restore Britain.Here are the key moments in a week in which the populist right turned on each other. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anger at decision not to extradite Canadian suicide kit supplier to face UK justice 29. May 2026 (12:39) Kenneth Law expected to admit to sending products internationally in knowledge they would probably be used to end livesBereaved families whose loved ones were the victims of an online supplier of suicide kits say they feel insulted by a decision not to prosecute him in the UK.Kenneth Law was due to appear in court on Friday in Ontario, Canada, accused of selling 1,200 suicide packages across 40 countries, including the UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: deadly May heatwave shatters records across Europe 29. May 2026 (11:47) Temperatures across parts of continent around 10-15C above average for this time of year, while thunderstorms strike eastern AustraliaEurope has experienced an exceptional heatwave this week, with temperature records broken across multiple countries under a persistent area of high pressure, commonly referred to as a “heat dome.” The UK surpassed its May maximum temperature record on Tuesday, with 35.1C recorded at Kew Gardens, London.This broke the record set only the day before with 34.8C recorded in London on Monday. Previously, the maximum May temperature record was 32.8C recorded in 1922 and then matched in 1944. Ireland also broke its May maximum temperature, with 28.8C recorded at two weather stations – one in Killarney in the south-west and Clonmel in the south. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russian drone strike ‘most serious security incident’ in Romania since start of Ukraine war – Europe live 29. May 2026 (11:32) Romanian president leads outrage after drone hits apartment block near border with UkraineThe incident comes just days after the Czech president, Petr Pavel, has urged Nato to “show its teeth” in response to Russia’s repeated testing of the alliance’s resolve on its eastern flank, suggesting a range of options including switching off its internet, cutting off its banks from global financial systems and shooting down jets that violate allied airspace.Speaking to the Guardian in Prague last week, Pavel called for “decisive enough, potentially even asymmetric” responses to counter Moscow’s provocative behaviour against the alliance or risk the Kremlin intensifying its actions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brisbane teenager accused of using a police car as a BMX ramp in viral stunt at Scientology church 29. May 2026 (10:41) Zeppelin Witheridge charged with public nuisance over ‘Scientology speedrun’ social media trendGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA social media stunt that treats churches like video games has gone from TikTok to the dock, landing an alleged teenage “speedrunner” in court.Zeppelin Witheridge, 18, has been accused of using a police car as a BMX ramp after a viral challenge went awry at the Church of Scientology in Brisbane’s CBD. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
