WHO chief arrives in DRC promising Ebola outbreak ‘can be stopped’ 29. May 2026 (04:10) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus heads for Ituri province where epidemic is centred and calls for halt to fighting that hampers medical relief effortsThe deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be stopped, the World Health Organization (WHO) head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said as he arrived in Kinsasha.Tedros landed in the DRC on Thursday evening and was due on Friday to travel to Ituri province in the north-east, where the epidemic is centred. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Death toll in Washington tank rupture rises to eight as recovery progresses 29. May 2026 (03:39) Three more people remain missing and are presumed dead, after tank containing chemical mixture collapsedThe confirmed death toll in the chemical tank explosion at a Washington state paper mill rose to eight on Thursday after crews recovered the remains of six workers, officials said.Three more individuals remain missing and are presumed dead. Eight other people were injured, including a firefighter responding to the incident. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California’s ‘Los Gatos party mom’ sentenced to 35 years in prison 29. May 2026 (03:05) Shannon O’Connor, 52, was convicted of charges including child endangerment and facilitating forcible sexual assaultA judge has sentenced a San Francisco Bay Area mother to 35 years in prison after her conviction for a slew of crimes resulting from hosting drunken sex parties for young teenagers.Widely known as the “Los Gatos party mom”, a nickname that references her hometown, 52-year-old Shannon O’Connor was convicted of four dozen crimes in March, including child endangerment, dissuading witnesses from reporting a crime and facilitating forcible sexual assault. Her sentence was the maximum allowed under state law. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Federal jury finds army veteran and two other ICE protesters guilty of conspiracy 29. May 2026 (02:58) Case involving June 2025 protest is escalation in Trump officials’ attack on first amendment rights, say expertsA federal jury has found three protesters, including a US military veteran of the war in Afghanistan, guilty on felony conspiracy charges on Thursday for their part in a June 2025 protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Legal experts have said the Spokane, Washington, case marked a serious escalation in the Trump administration’s attack on first amendment rights. The demonstrators now face potential sentences of up to six years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Musical acts back out of performing at Trump-affiliated concert series 29. May 2026 (02:05) Morris Day, Young MC and others balk at appearing at US’s 250th anniversary events organized by administrationAt least five of the nine featured musical acts set to play in a concert series organized by the Trump administration to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary have dropped out, just one day after the lineup was announced.The first to drop out, hours after Wednesday’s announcement, was Morris Day, who called his scheduled participation in the summer concert series on Washington DC’s National Mall a baseless “rumor”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Global heating is making hajj ever more dangerous, report finds 29. May 2026 (01:01) Rising heat in Saudi Arabia threatens millions of Muslim pilgrims – but cutting fossil fuels would keep it saferGlobal heating has “fundamentally altered” the climate of Mecca and is exposing millions of hajj pilgrims to extreme and dangerous heat even in months outside summer, new analysis has found.Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels means scorching temperatures of 40C (104F) are now regularly experienced in May, the study showed. In past decades, such peaks would only have occurred in summer. The researchers said that hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, would take place amid dangerous heat almost all year round by the end of the century without a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Afghan president voiced concern over civilians killed by SAS troops, inquiry told 29. May 2026 (01:01) Newly released evidence from inquiry into 80 deaths shows Afghan partner forces no longer willing to work alongside British by 2011Concerns about the number of Afghan civilians being killed by British special forces in the early part of the last decade prompted the country’s then president to make a “muscular” complaint to Nato commanders fighting the Taliban.Newly released evidence from a public inquiry into the deaths of up to 80 people during an SAS deployment also showed that Afghan partner military forces were no longer willing to work alongside the British by the spring of 2011. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Co-founder of Students for Trump arrested on domestic violence charges 29. May 2026 (00:07) Ryan Fournier, 30, was charged with simple assault and threats to do bodily harmThe co-founder of the group Students for Trump was arrested on Tuesday on domestic violence charges.Washington DC’s Metropolitan police department arrested Ryan Fournier, 30, and charged him with simple assault and threats to do bodily harm, Defector first reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Asio warns politicians that internet-connected cars could be bugged; flood warnings after wild weather 28. May 2026 (23:42) Spy agency says politicians and public servants ‘should be conscious of the things that they are discussing’ in internet-connected cars. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAttorney general says Nacc could use a ‘reset’ after commissioner says he will step downRowland also said the National Anti Corruption Commission (Nacc) could get a “reset” after Paul Brereton, the body’s first commissioner, said he would step down from the role in July.I’ve never stated anything but support for the commissioner and confidence in Commissioner Brereton. But this does give us an opportunity with these new appointments to have a reset and I will be engaging across the parliament to make sure that that happens. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dallas rescuers search for victims after gas explosion destroys building and ignites blaze 28. May 2026 (23:37) Four people taken to hospital but mayor said search continues for other survivors or fatalitiesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Nearly 100 firefighters battled a large fire that erupted on Thursday at an apartment complex in Dallas, where debris from one collapsed building lay heaped on the ground while flames and black smoke billowed into the sky.News video showed dozens of firefighters at the scene. Some had hoses trained on piles of smoking debris while others lifted and moved lumber and other burned wreckage as if searching for people underneath. Two firefighters with hoses towered above the blaze on long ladders, while another sprayed water from the window of an upper floor of a neighboring building. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
