World — 2026-05-29

WHO chief arrives in DRC promising Ebola outbreak ‘can be stopped’

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for ceasefire, saying no conflict is worth condemning people to death from preventable diseaseThe deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be stopped, the head of the World Health Organization has said, as he arrived in the country to support efforts to contain the disease.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinsasha on Thursday and was due on Friday to travel to Ituri province, in the north-east, where the outbreak was centred.

Left 100%Center 0%Right 0%

Vote

‘Essentially diving in coffee’: Australian diver among team rushing to rescue people trapped in flooded Laos cave

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.

Vote

Brisbane teenager accused of using a police car as a BMX ramp in viral stunt at Scientology church

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.

Vote

Weather tracker: deadly May heatwave shatters records across Europe

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.

Vote

Greener pasture of a shepherd’s life lures Chinese workers penned in by ‘996’ jobs

When an Inner Mongolia farmer sought two herders to tend his 3,000 sheep, he was swamped with applicants including graduates, factory labourers and white-collar workersA Chinese farm owner’s recruitment drive for shepherds has ended in success after his job advert seeking people to work on his Inner Mongolia ranch went viral, drawing the attention of city dwellers struggling to find work and highlighting growing strains in China’s labour market.Zuo Xiaoyong posted an advert on Chinese social media in late April seeking two shepherds, preferably a couple, to take 3,000 sheep out to graze on a 2,000ha pasture in the summer.

Vote

‘I felt my humanity was bastardised’: Cynthia Erivo says reaction to Ariana Grande red carpet incident rooted in racism

Wicked co-star said reactions to the incident, which included suggestions she was Grande’s ‘bodyguard’, reflect an insidious view of Black womenWicked star Cynthia Erivo has said that reactions to the incident at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, in which she stepped in to fend off a red-carpet invader who grabbed co-star Ariana Grande, revealed “the insidious nature of how we view Black women” and put her off campaigning for Oscars.In an interview with Variety, Erivo said that she and Grande were “terrified” when Johnson Wen jumped a barrier at Universal Studios Singapore and rushed towards them.

Vote

EU fines Temu for failing to stop sale of illegal and dangerous products

European Commission finds shoppers on Chinese website very likely to find unsafe items and imposes €200m penaltyEU regulators have fined the Chinese shopping website Temu €200m (£173m) for failing to stop the sale of illegal and dangerous products.The European Commission imposed the penalty after a 19-month investigation that found consumers were very likely to encounter illegal or unsafe products including baby toys and electronics on the firm’s website.

Vote

Image of Thai police in sparkly dresses with handcuffed suspect turns out to be AI fake

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.

Vote

EU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance

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.

Vote

Family accuse UK government of lack of support over death of Briton in Grenada

Pathologist found Andrew Frederick’s death was a homicide but UK authorities refused specialist helpThe grieving family of a British man found dead in his home on the Caribbean island of Grenada have accused UK authorities of failing to support their fight for justice.The family of Andrew Frederick, 47, whose body was discovered on 4 January, are calling for an urgent review of the policies governing UK assistance to the loved ones of Britons killed abroad.

Vote

Carney calls for new US-Canada partnership to ‘help make America great again’

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.

Vote

Clashes between armed groups in Colombia kill at least 52

Rival groups are vying for territorial control of strategic cocaine production and trafficking regionAt least 52 guerrilla fighters have been killed in clashes between two rival armed groups vying for territorial control of a strategic cocaine production and trafficking region in south-east Colombia, a faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) involved in the fighting has said.The clashes, the most violent in recent months, took place in the jungles of the department of Guaviare, near the village of Barranco Colorado.

Vote

Guatemala requests US military cooperation against drug trafficking

Central American country says its president spoke with Pete Hegseth to confirm terms of cooperationSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailGuatemala has requested US military cooperation spanning access to equipment, training and experts to assist Guatemalan operations against drug trafficking, the country’s president, Bernardo Arévalo, said on Thursday.The joint plans stopped short of US military operations on Guatemalan soil and fall within existing bilateral agreements, the government noted.

Vote

Anger at decision not to extradite Canadian suicide kit supplier to face UK justice

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.

Vote

WHO chief calls for DRC ceasefire to tackle Ebola outbreak

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of ‘catastrophic collision of disease and conflict’, as Uganda closes border with DRC The head of the World Health Organization has called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to help tackle the Ebola outbreak there, as Uganda closed its border with its neighbour in an effort to stop the spread.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on social media that the region was in the midst of a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict with the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response”.

Vote

US building Ebola quarantine center in Kenya for Americans amid outbreak

Some experts criticize White House approach and say not allowing Americans to return to US hurts treatment effortsThe Trump administration is building a quarantine and treatment center in Kenya for Americans affected by the Ebola outbreak, instead of bringing them home.The White House on Wednesday confirmed that the US was setting up a facility in Kenya for Americans to quarantine after Ebola exposure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Vote

Dormitory fire at Kenyan girls’ school kills at least 16 students

Parents face anxious wait for updates after blaze tears through Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru countyA fire has ripped through a dormitory at a girls’ school in Kenya’s Rift valley, killing at least 16 students.The fire broke out just after midnight at Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru county, about 76 miles north-west of Nairobi, police said.

Vote

Abbott says Liberals ‘under new management’ and vows to help Taylor lead ‘people’s revolt’ against Labor

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.

Vote

Tony Abbott says Liberals in ‘existential crisis’ as he is elected party president – as it happened

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWho’s leading the fight against Labor’s CGT reform – and what’s in it for them?People with direct personal financial stakes in Labor’s tax reforms are among the loudest voices opposing the changes.

Vote

Friday briefing: What do the cuts in aid mean for the fight against Ebola in the DRC?

In today’s newsletter: As the virus spreads across borders, health workers warn that weakened global support is making a prolonged crisis more likelyEbola is spreading rapidly in parts of east Africa.

Vote

Friday, May 29, 2026

WHO chief arrives in DRC promising Ebola outbreak ‘can be stopped’

‘Essentially diving in coffee’: Australian diver among team rushing to rescue people trapped in flooded Laos cave

Brisbane teenager accused of using a police car as a BMX ramp in viral stunt at Scientology church

Weather tracker: deadly May heatwave shatters records across Europe

Greener pasture of a shepherd’s life lures Chinese workers penned in by ‘996’ jobs

‘I felt my humanity was bastardised’: Cynthia Erivo says reaction to Ariana Grande red carpet incident rooted in racism

EU fines Temu for failing to stop sale of illegal and dangerous products

Image of Thai police in sparkly dresses with handcuffed suspect turns out to be AI fake

EU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance

Family accuse UK government of lack of support over death of Briton in Grenada

Carney calls for new US-Canada partnership to ‘help make America great again’

Clashes between armed groups in Colombia kill at least 52

Guatemala requests US military cooperation against drug trafficking

Anger at decision not to extradite Canadian suicide kit supplier to face UK justice

WHO chief calls for DRC ceasefire to tackle Ebola outbreak

US building Ebola quarantine center in Kenya for Americans amid outbreak

Dormitory fire at Kenyan girls’ school kills at least 16 students

Abbott says Liberals ‘under new management’ and vows to help Taylor lead ‘people’s revolt’ against Labor

Tony Abbott says Liberals in ‘existential crisis’ as he is elected party president – as it happened

Friday briefing: What do the cuts in aid mean for the fight against Ebola in the DRC?

Older stories and past days

Friday, May 29, 2026

WHO chief arrives in DRC promising Ebola outbreak ‘can be stopped’

‘Essentially diving in coffee’: Australian diver among team rushing to rescue people trapped in flooded Laos cave

Brisbane teenager accused of using a police car as a BMX ramp in viral stunt at Scientology church

Weather tracker: deadly May heatwave shatters records across Europe

Greener pasture of a shepherd’s life lures Chinese workers penned in by ‘996’ jobs

‘I felt my humanity was bastardised’: Cynthia Erivo says reaction to Ariana Grande red carpet incident rooted in racism

EU fines Temu for failing to stop sale of illegal and dangerous products

Image of Thai police in sparkly dresses with handcuffed suspect turns out to be AI fake

EU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance

Family accuse UK government of lack of support over death of Briton in Grenada

Carney calls for new US-Canada partnership to ‘help make America great again’

Clashes between armed groups in Colombia kill at least 52

Guatemala requests US military cooperation against drug trafficking

Anger at decision not to extradite Canadian suicide kit supplier to face UK justice

WHO chief calls for DRC ceasefire to tackle Ebola outbreak

US building Ebola quarantine center in Kenya for Americans amid outbreak

Dormitory fire at Kenyan girls’ school kills at least 16 students

Abbott says Liberals ‘under new management’ and vows to help Taylor lead ‘people’s revolt’ against Labor

Tony Abbott says Liberals in ‘existential crisis’ as he is elected party president – as it happened

Friday briefing: ​What do the cuts in aid mean for the fight against Ebola in the DRC?

Older stories and past days

Friday briefing: What do the cuts in aid mean for the fight against Ebola in the DRC?