‘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)
‘Essentially diving in coffee’: Australian diver among team rushing to rescue people trapped in flooded Laos cave 29. May 2026 (10:35) Josh Richards joins international mission to extract five found alive and search for missing twoGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian cave diver is part of an international team that has been flown into Laos from around the world to rescue seven people stuck in a remote, flooded cave.The group entered the cave in Xaysomboun province, central Laos, to hunt wildlife and search for gold more than a week ago, but heavy rain blocked the cave entrance. Five of them were found alive this week, but two remain unaccounted for – and the rescuers, some of whom were involved in the rescue of a young Thai football team in 2018, still need to extract the survivors from the inundated passageways. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man and woman charged over Sheffield bystander shooting 29. May 2026 (10:07) Shanice Brookes, 30, was shot dead outside bar in city centre during early hours of bank holiday MondayA man and a woman have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old woman outside a bar in Sheffield in the early hours of bank holiday Monday.Shanice Brookes was shot near the One Four One bar in West Street shortly before 2.45am on Monday. Detectives have described her as “simply an innocent bystander”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Abbott says Liberals ‘under new management’ and vows to help Taylor lead ‘people’s revolt’ against Labor 29. May 2026 (09:08) Former prime minister elected Liberal party president on Friday after running unopposedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTony Abbott has declared the Liberals are “under new management” after his election as party president, vowing to help Angus Taylor lead a “people’s revolt” against the Labor government.The former prime minister and conservative warrior was elected to the position at the Liberal federal council meeting in Melbourne on Friday, marking a return to active political life seven years after losing his seat in federal parliament. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sunbed firm in hot seat over false claims that tanned skin protects against sunburn 29. May 2026 (08:00) Health organisations refute assertion by Sunbed Association that tanning is protective and warn it could increase risk of skin cancerThe body that represents the UK’s sunbed salons is wrongly insisting that a tan protects against sunburn, even though leading medical bodies say that claim is untrue.Health organisations have challenged the accuracy of information being disseminated by the Sunbed Association, which on its website asks: “Is it true there is no such thing as a safe tan?” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tenderness and Rage: how groups affected by HIV found power, comfort and joy in Aids activism 29. May 2026 (08:00) London exhibition explores how care and protest improved rights and dignity of those living with diseaseFrom photos of a mass “die-in” by Aids activists in Trafalgar Square, London, in the 1990s to plushie breasts, lips and vulvas hand-stitched by HIV-positive women, a new exhibition explores how care and protest have improved the rights and dignity of those living with the disease.The show, Tenderness and Rage, at the Wellcome Collection, London, reflects how different groups affected by HIV, including gay men, women of colour, and refugees in the UK and around the world have found power, solidarity, comfort and joy in Aids activism and support services. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
