Priest on trial for sexual assault in Texas had child with Louisiana congregant, prosecutors say 28. May 2026 (20:36) DNA testing proved Anthony Odiong fathered child with woman to whom he had been providing spiritual guidance, authorities saySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailTexas prosecutors on Thursday established that a Roman Catholic priest being tried there on charges that he illegally exploited his status as a priest to pursue sex with three spiritually vulnerable congregants had a child with a separate congregant in approximately 2023 – while working outside New Orleans.That explosive development unfolded on the third day of Anthony Odiong’s trial at a state courthouse in Waco, Texas, where he worked before being transferred to Luling, Louisiana. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Happy the elephant dies aged 55 after being euthanized at New York zoo 28. May 2026 (20:17) Happy was the focus of a high-profile court case launched in 2018 over whether she had the legal rights of a personHappy, an elephant that became embroiled in a high-profile court case over whether she had the legal rights of a person, has died after being euthanized at New York City’s Bronx zoo at the age of 55.The Asian elephant, was euthanized on Tuesday after zoo staff determined that “progressive, age-related health conditions” required the decision, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs four zoos and an aquarium in New York. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Netanyahu orders Israeli army to seize ‘70% of Gaza Strip’, violating ceasefire deal 28. May 2026 (20:14) Speaking in West Bank settlement, Israeli PM, who is fighting for political survival before elections, says ‘we are squeezing Hamas’Middle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu has said he has given orders to the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip in a move that threatens to torpedo an already fragile ceasefire and create catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the already devastated territory.Under the US-brokered ceasefire in October, the Israeli army withdrew to a demarcation line which gave Israel direct control of 53% of the occupied territory. Since then, Israeli forces have steadily advanced their positions westward into the Hamas-controlled half of the strip, and declared an ever-expanded no man’s land west of that, within which they claim the right to decide who can enter and open fire on anyone perceived as a threat. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Enfield council withdraws from government’s new towns programme 28. May 2026 (19:47) London authority’s new Tory-led administration delivers significant blow to Labour’s flagship housebuilding schemeEnfield council in north London has withdrawn from the government’s new towns programme, in a significant blow to Labour’s flagship housebuilding scheme.The move by the new minority Conservative-led administration could present one of the first tests of Rachel Reeves’s planning changes, designed to curb the use of judicial reviews against new infrastructure. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Carney calls for new US-Canada partnership to ‘help make America great again’ 28. May 2026 (19:38) Canada prime minister urges greater economic cooperation between the two countries in speech delivered in New YorkCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney has called for a new relationship with the United States to “help make America great again”.In a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, Carney said that there should be a “true partnership” that reimagines cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer defends policy choices in rebuttal of Blair’s criticism 28. May 2026 (19:31) PM says predecessor misunderstands government’s successes and ‘very different’ situation compared with 1997Keir Starmer has dismissed Tony’s Blair’s argument that his government is on the wrong track, saying he is implementing the policies needed for today, not the very different situation faced by the former prime minister in 1997.“You won’t be surprised to know that I don’t agree with much that Tony says about what the government is doing,” Starmer said during a visit to an apprentice training centre in west London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nearly 500 seriously injured in e-scooter collisions in Great Britain in 2026 28. May 2026 (19:25) Ten people, all of whom were e-scooter riders, were killed in collisions compared with six in 2024Nearly 500 people were seriously injured in collisions involving e-scooters in Great Britain last year, government statistics have shown.The Department for Transport (DfT) said there had been an estimated 1,484 casualties in crashes involving electric scooters, compared with 1,390 in 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK recall alert issued for car seat base that poses risk of injuries to children 28. May 2026 (19:22) Office for Product Safety and Standards advises stopping use of Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Slide Pro bases immediatelyA baby car seat product that poses a risk of injuries to children because of a malfunctioning safety indicator has been recalled by its manufacturer.Maxi-Cosi is recalling all of its FamilyFix Slide Pro bases from buyers, information on the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website shows. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance 28. May 2026 (18:29) Concerns among commissioners in bloc that surge in imports could lead to decline similar to that of US rust belt townsEU commissioners will meet on Friday for crunch talks aimed at imposing new restrictions on imports from China amid growing concern that Beijing is fuelling conditions for US-style rust belt towns in Europe.The surge in imports of everything from electric cars to key components in machines, medical devices and foodstuffs has been dubbed China Shock 2.0, potentially mirroring the experience in the US 25 years ago when Beijing joined the World Trade Organization. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Image of Thai police in sparkly dresses with handcuffed suspect turns out to be AI fake 28. May 2026 (18:05) Picture was created by administrator in charge of station’s Facebook account who wanted to create ‘friendlier image’It was an arresting image and an irresistible story. A group of tough Thai police officers – five men and one woman – all wearing elaborate festival-style dresses, surrounding a drug dealer they had caught while undercover.The image, released by local police, was so compelling that it found its way on to the front page of the UK’s Daily Star, as well as in picture stories in the Telegraph, the Sun and the New York Post. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
