Trump call with Taiwanese president on hold

When Trump visited China earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned him that Taiwan could become a "very dangerous situation" if mishandled.

7 of 9 bodies recovered after chemical tank implosion at paper mill

The tank ruptured Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, a city located along the southern Washington border with Oregon, killing 11 people.

Dell shares jump 39% after server maker reports fastest sales growth since return to public market in 2018

Dell has gone from being a sleepy legacy tech company to a high-growth AI story, assembling servers packed with graphics processing units.

Jill Biden on Joe Biden's pardon of son Hunter

Although President Joe Biden had said he would not pardon his son, Hunter, Jill Biden says he changed his mind once Donald Trump was elected. She talked with Sunday Morning's Rita Braver about the pardon, and her concerns over her family being targeted by the Trump administration. Watch the full interview May 31.

At least 3 killed and 5 injured in Dallas explosion, officials say

The number of victims could change as details continue to unfold and crews search through the debris.

Poor sleep linked to rising cancer risk in under-50s

Findings add to growing efforts to explain why cancer rates are increasing among younger adults worldwide

Poor sleep may be fuelling the global rise in under-50s being diagnosed with cancer, two large studies suggest.

The number of younger people diagnosed with the disease has risen by almost 80% in three decades. Worldwide cases of early-onset cancer increased from 1.82m in 1990 to 3.26m in 2019, while cancer deaths among people in their 40s, 30s or younger rose by 27%.

Airlines urge Trump administration not to curb international flights in feud over 'sanctuary cities'

The Trump administration has been weighing cutting off Customs and Border Protection services at certain airports to pressure "sanctuary cities."

Judge blocks closure of Kennedy Center, orders removal of Trump's name

A judge blocked the Kennedy Center from closing its doors during renovations, and ruled that its board acted unlawfully by adding President Trump's name to the building. The president reacted by saying he wants Congress to take it over.

5 economic signals suggest U.S. consumers are feeling the strain

Consumers have kept the economy chugging along despite financial pressures. But some signs suggest they could be losing steam, experts say.

Teenage prodigy João Fonseca beats old master Novak Djokovic in five-set epic at French Open

• Djokovic had stormed into 2-0 lead on Philippe-Chatrier

• Brazilian 19-year-old wins 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5

As Novak Djokovic limped back to his chair four hours into a tennis match that had descended into hell, the 24-times grand slam winner did not have much more to give. A two-set lead had unravelled and his 39-year-old body had hit a wall against a shining opponent 20 years his junior. Having reached the umpire’s chair, Djokovic vomited into the red dirt.

Still, nobody has mastered the art of finding victory from a miserable position quite like Djokovic, so everybody inside Court Philippe-Chatrier knew he could always conjure a path through.

Nearly 100 homes evacuated in Scottish village after reports of ground movement

Investigation launched in former mining village of Coalsnaughton after residents forced to leave properties

Nearly 100 homes have been evacuated following reports of ground movement in a former mining village in Clackmannanshire.

Properties began being evacuated on 18 May and an investigation has since been launched into the cause in Coalsnaughton.

Trump can't rename Kennedy Center or close it for renovation for now, judge says

"The Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump," said Rep. Joyce Beatty, who sued over the renaming.

3 climbers dead, 1 rescued after fall while climbing America's tallest peak

One climber was rescued from the 17,200-foot basin on Alaska's Mount McKinley, and the search for three remaining climbers who also fell is now a recovery effort, the National Park Service said.

‘There’s a burning fire in my belly’: Anthony Gordon signs for Barcelona from Newcastle in £69.3m deal

• England winger commits to Spanish giants to 2031

• ‘It is a dream come true to be part of this club’

Anthony Gordon has signed for Barcelona from Newcastle in a five-year deal believed to be worth £69.3m. Both clubs announced the move on Friday night, with the Spanish giants saying in a statement that the 25-year-old winger will sign for “the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031”.

“FC Barcelona and Newcastle United have reached an agreement for Anthony Gordon to become a blaugrana for the next five seasons,” Barcelona added.

ICE temporarily releases man facing deportation to Congo amid Ebola outbreak

Jose Yugar-Cruz, who had been granted protection from deportation to his home country in South America, has been temporarily released from ICE custody.

This week on "Sunday Morning" (May 31)

A look at the features for this week's broadcast of the Emmy-winning program, hosted by Jane Pauley.

5 killed, dozens injured when bus plows into several vehicles in Virginia

The five deaths came in vehicles that were struck by the bus when it did not slow down for traffic, Virginia State Police said.

What if Trump invades Cuba? – Stateside with Kai and Carter

When the US indicted Raúl Castro recently, it was another step in the escalating pressure campaign the Trump administration is conducting against Cuba’s communist government. As Cuba’s president warns of a “bloodbath” if the US engages in military action, how are Cubans coping and what outcome are they hoping for? Host Kai Wright speaks with Mónica Baró Sánchez, a Cuban reporter in exile in Miami, and the Guardian’s Cuba correspondent Ruaridh Nicoll in Havana, about what they’re hearing from Cuban citizens stuck between two governments.

‘The rug pulled out from everyone’: the chaos of Trump’s new green card rules

The policy memo issued last week requires many foreigners to obtain green cards through their home countries

A new policy memo issued last week by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), requiring many foreigners in the US to leave the country and obtain green cards through their home countries, has sparked confusion and fear among hundreds of thousands of visa holders and families, as well as immigration advocates and lawyers.

Multiple Guardian readers, speaking anonymously out of fear, said the memo threatens to upend lives they have spent years building in the US – from careers and homes to marriages and long-term plans for stability.

Trump's name must come off of the Kennedy Center, judge rules

The judge wrote in his 94-page ruling that it was "crystal clear" that the arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. He also ruled that the center could not wind down its programming and close for two years of renovations – at least for now

Why have tomato prices surged nearly 40% in a year?

Experts point to several factors, from tariffs to weather, behind the rapid price increase in the humble tomato.

ICE agent arrested over shooting of Venezuelan man in Minnesota

Christian Castro charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime after video emerged of non-fatal shooting in January

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A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent wanted for shooting a Venezuelan man during the sweeping immigration crackdown in Minnesota was arrested on Friday in Texas, authorities said.

Christian Castro was taken into custody 11 days after Minneapolis prosecutors charged him with assault and falsely reporting a crime.

Pam Bondi admits to ‘redaction errors’ in Epstein files but defends DoJ’s handling

Ex-attorney general tells House committee she did not ‘lead every aspect’ of effort but rather delegated to Todd Blanche

• US politics live – latest updates

Pam Bondi, the former attorney general, defended the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files under her leadership on Friday, and told lawmakers on the House oversight and reform committee that she did not “lead every aspect” of the department’s effort, but rather she delegated oversight of the process to Todd Blanche, her former deputy attorney general, who is now acting attorney general.

Democratic lawmakers also said that Bondi refused to answer questions about Donald Trump’s involvement in the release of the files.

The week around the world in 20 pictures

Russian strikes in Kyiv, the Ebola outbreak, Eid al-Adha in Gaza and Sinner at the French Open – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists

Mercedes-Benz may be shut out of U.S. market under bill aimed at Chinese automaker ownership

Mercedes-Benz's largest individual shareholder is BAIC, a Chinese state-owned automaker. Sources told CNBC that exemptions in the legislation would not apply.

Trump claims to be on verge of peace deal but Iran signals no agreement reached

US president did not announce decision on deal that could open strait of Hormuz after two-hour situation room meet

Donald Trump has claimed he could approve an Iran peace deal on Friday that contains major concessions from Tehran, including the opening of the strait of Hormuz and the elimination of the country’s nuclear programme. However, top Iranian officials signalled a final agreement had not been reached.

The two versions indicate Trump may once again be practising his “art of the deal” as he seeks to talk his way out of a war that has disrupted global energy supplies and rocked the world economy.

US judge orders removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center

Judge rules that Washington DC performing arts venue cannot be renamed without an act of Congress

A judge on Friday ordered the removal of Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling that the prestigious Washington DC venue cannot be renamed without an act of Congress.

US district judge Christopher Cooper in Washington directed the Trump administration to take down all physical signage bearing Trump’s name and to eliminate any references to a “Trump Kennedy Center” from official materials within 14 days.

Blue Origin warns of rocket explosion debris after failed New Glenn test at Cape Canaveral

Jeff Bezos' rocket maker suffered a setback on Thursday as its New Glenn rocket went up in flames.

Liberation of Premier League title can help Arsenal blunt PSG and join Europe’s elite

Mikel Arteta must find the balance between newfound freedom and tried-and-tested solidity against Luis Enrique’s attacking machine

Welcome to Budapest: city of stew, city of pavement squares, city of men in cotton smocks offering brisk muscular relaxation in geothermally heated cubicles. Eleven days on from the profound emotional release of winning the Premier League title it seems fitting Arsenal will approach their season’s endgame in a city that is basically perfect for a restorative summer city break.

Saturday afternoon at the Puskas Arena already looks like a twin-track event for Mikel Arteta’s team, an occasion that changes shape according to the angle from which you see it. On one hand, victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final would represent the greatest day in Arsenal’s history. On the other, this is an occasion that feels strangely light, fun, celebratory, a free-hit kind of final.

Groundbreaking genomic test could spare millions of breast cancer patients chemotherapy

Trial suggests patients with a low test score could be treated with hormone therapy alone with near-identical outcomes

• ‘Like Christmas’: woman’s relief after test finds she can skip chemotherapy

Millions of women with breast cancer could be spared chemotherapy with a groundbreaking genomic test, according to the results of a trial that could transform healthcare guidelines worldwide.

Treatment for breast cancer, the world’s most prevalent form of the disease, involves surgery to remove tumours. Chemotherapy is then usually recommended when doctors believe there is a risk the disease will return.

No tax charges filed in SPLC probe after IRS lawyers found informant program lawful

Federal agents from FBI and IRS probed the SPLC's paid informant program starting in Trump's first term.

Trump DOJ 'lawfare' fund temporarily blocked by judge as suit proceeds

The DOJ has faced strong criticism for the creation of a $1.8 Anti-Weaponization Fund which could compensate allies of President Donald Trump.

Tokens or humans? The new corporate trade-off

AI is costing far more than companies expected, forcing CFOs into a new trade-off between tokens and humans and posing a risk the market hasn't priced in.

She waited for a soulmate who never showed up: ChatGPT users detail AI delusions

AI-fueled delusions can happen when chatbots respond to grandiose, paranoid or imaginary ideas with affirmation or encouragement.

Pam Bondi testifies behind closed doors in House committee's Epstein probe

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Oversight Committee on Friday about her handling of the Epstein files.

Air traffic control run by Compaq computers is safe but inefficient, FAA head says

As the summer travel season starts to take off, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford tells CBS News he has confidence in the system, despite hundreds of FAA facilities being run on decades-old technology.

Southwest revises its overweight passenger rules. Here's what's changing.

Southwest is walking back some recent changes in its policies for passengers who require a second seat.

Louisiana lawmakers pass congressional map designed to pick up GOP seat

The Louisiana Legislature passed a new congressional map that would leave the state with only one of its two majority-Black districts.

UN adds Israel and Russia to blacklist for sexual violence in conflict

Organisation cites abuse, including rape of male detainees, by security forces of governments which have blocked UN investigators

The UN has added Israel and Russia to a blacklist for sexual violence in conflict, citing abuse by security forces, including the rape of male detainees. .

The UN verified sexual abuse of 31 Palestinian men, women and children from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank between 2023 and 2025. Israeli attacks included repeated gang-rapes and the use of sexual violence as a form of torture, the report said.

Alarm at Mexico bill allowing elections to be annulled for ‘foreign interference’

Opposition says constitutional amendment would give bill ruling party carte blanche to overturn will of voters

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Amid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico’s senate has passed ‌a constitutional amendment to include “foreign interference” as grounds to annul election results in the country.

The bill, which was presented by the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as “illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic ⁠dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and ⁠the intervention of foreign governments ⁠or agencies”.

Judge temporarily blocks DOJ work on $1.7+ billion "anti-weaponization" fund

The Justice Department announced the $1.7 billion fund as part of a settlement of a civil lawsuit President Trump brought against the IRS.

Footage of rare giant otter pups at Chester zoo – video

The 15-week-old triplets get their first swimming lesson from their mum, Bonita, and dad, Manu. The two boys, Uca and Yali, are named after an area of the Amazon rainforest and the second largest region in Peru. The female pup is named Yara, which means ‘river spirit’ in Brazilian folklore. Endangered giant otters face an uncertain future as conservationists estimate that only a few thousand remain across South America. The pups have been born as part of the international conservation breeding programme in European zoos that is working to safeguard them from extinction

Why are people attacking Ebola clinics? It revolves around trust, death and body bags

In echoes of past outbreaks, community members are attacking clinics, distrusting doctors and following burial traditions that could lead to more cases of Ebola.

Louisiana lawmakers pass a congressional map to dismantle a majority-Black district

Louisiana's Republican lawmakers raced to eliminate one of two majority-Black congressional seats in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the current map unconstitutional in a sweeping ruling.

Lula says Brazil will not be treated like ‘tinpot country’ after US designates gangs as terrorists

Marco Rubio made announcement after meeting president’s far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro

Brazil will not be treated as a “tinpot country,” the country’s president, Luiz Inácio da Silva, said on Friday after the United States designated Brazil’s two largest criminal gangs, the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command, as foreign terrorist organisations.

The announcement, made by Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, on Thursday, is being widely seen in Brazil as a setback for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president who had strongly opposed the designation – and a boost for Lula’s main challenger in October’s presidential election, the far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.

The Guardian view on Israel and Gaza: the threat of further humanitarian catastrophe | Editorial

As Donald Trump looks for peace with Iran, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government escalates elsewhere – and Europe stands by

“He’ll do whatever I want him to do,” said Donald Trump, addressing his discussions with Benjamin Netanyahu over their illegal war on Iran. The US president said on Friday that he was making his final determination on a deal – of sorts – with Tehran. As chief ally, funder and arms supplier for Israel, the US can rein in its prime minister. But with his hands tied on Iran, Mr Netanyahu seems bent on rekindling war elsewhere. Israel’s brutal escalation in Lebanon may be an attempt to gain ground while it can, or perhaps to destabilise the Iran peace initiative. The prospects for Gaza are grimmer.

As Mr Trump talks up a new peace deal in the Middle East, Mr Netanyahu is trashing Mr Trump’s last effort. Israel this week killed another Hamas military chief, but this war has failed in its stated aim of destroying the group, while visiting untold horror on civilians. Israeli forces have expanded far beyond the half of territory they agreed to hold, attack Palestinians in an undefined zone around their positions and carry out airstrikes deeper into Gaza. Yet Nickolay Mladenov, the top diplomat for the Trump-appointed Board of Peace, has blamed Hamas for the stalling of the purported ceasefire. Now Mr Netanyahu says he has ordered the military to take control of 70% of Gaza. That would force more than 2 million Palestinians into less than a third of what was already overcrowded territory.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

The Guardian view on Peter Mandelson: the government must come clean on vetting | Editorial

The first mistake was appointing the peer despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The next would be claiming his security risks were properly managed

It is telling that the person who first floated the idea of Peter Mandelson as the next UK ambassador to America was probably himself. He seems to have looked at his global contacts and thought: this is why I’m useful. Whitehall’s security vetters, UKSV, looked at the same contacts and thought: this is why he’s not. The latest revelations illustrate something rotten about modern politics. What the wealthy and connected think makes them an asset is exactly what makes them a risk.

In late 2024, Lord Mandelson was announced as the UK’s ambassador to Washington by Sir Keir Starmer. That posting ended in disgrace last year after US files exposed the depth of his links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But UKSV advised against giving security clearance to Lord Mandelson, flagging concerns over links to China’s finance minister, a sanctioned Russian oligarch, a former Israeli military intelligence chief and a British individual described as potentially compromising, as well as a £1m loan connected to an Israeli startup investment.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Jeffrey Donaldson’s letter to alleged victim had ‘nothing to do’ with abuse claims, trial hears

Former DUP leader’s barrister said woman was mistaken in linking letter to his alleged sex offences

Jeffrey Donaldson told a woman who has accused him of sexual assault that he regretted inflicting “hurt, pain and distress”, but his comments were not related to the allegations, a court has heard.

A lawyer for the former MP and Democratic Unionist party leader told Newry crown court on Friday that Donaldson’s letter to the alleged victim had “nothing to do” with her accusations of sexual abuse and referred to other behaviour.

Could Nato be dragged into Ukraine-Russia war? – The Latest

Nato has vowed to ‘defend every inch’ of its territory after a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania. The strike prompted swift condemnation and threats of repercussion from European leaders. So is there a risk the war could expand beyond Ukraine? Lucy Hough speaks to senior international correspondent Peter Beaumont

Here's how we're coping with high gas prices, according to Costco and Walmart

Sky-high gas prices have drivers going out of their way for discounts at the pump. Oil executives warn that even higher prices might be on the horizon.

Tony Blair says he is all about the future – but his vision is woefully stuck in the past | Jonathan Freedland

He insists he is so right but gets so much badly wrong, not least the absurdity that the UK should have joined Donald Trump in the quagmire that is Iran

Give the man credit. Tony Blair has achieved a goal that even a week ago seemed impossible, and which he scarcely managed in office: he has brought the Labour party together in sweet, harmonious unity. Thanks to him, Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and the man they hope to replace, Keir Starmer, are singing in unison, joined in a chorus of denunciation – of one T Blair.

Give the triple election-winner further credit. This is a political professional who still knows how to command the news cycle. Cannily timing the release of his nearly 6,000-word essay on the future of Britain, and the failings of Labour, to coincide with the parliamentary recess, he secured for himself massive coverage across all platforms over several days.

Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Canadian man admits sending ‘suicide packets’ to hundreds of people around world

Kenneth Law, who sold lethal chemicals online with instructions on how to use them, admits counselling or aiding suicide

• ‘It was too easy’: families ask how Kenneth Law enabled so many suicides

A Canadian man who mailed “suicide packets” of poison to more than 100 people in dozens of countries – including Canada, the UK, the US, Italy, Australia and New Zealand – has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of assisting suicide.

Kenneth Law appeared in a packed courtroom in Newmarket, Ontario, on Friday to enter the plea after prosecutors agreed to withdraw 14 murder charges. Sentencing is expected to take place in September.

Kuss climbs to Giro d’Italia stage 19 win as Vingegaard maintains overall lead

• Kuss completes grand tour stage win trilogy

• Vingegaard stays 4min 3sec clear of Gall in the GC

Teammates Sepp Kuss and Jonas Vingegaard dominated the high mountains for Visma-Lease a Bike on Friday as the former claimed a historic solo victory on stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia, and the latter firmly defended his overall lead.

By winning the brutal mountain stage atop Piani di Pezzè in the Dolomites, Kuss became the 116th rider to complete the Grand Tour stage victory trilogy, with the American adding an Italian success to wins at the Tour de France in 2021 and the Vuelta a España in 2019 and 2023.

Fed Governor Michelle Bowman warns against hiking interest rates because of inflation spike

Bowman said reacting to the inflation surge, driven primarily by energy prices and tariffs, has proven ineffective.

Many artists drop out of Freedom 250 concerts shortly after lineup announced

Many artists announced for the Freedom 250 concert series in Washington, D.C., this summer, say they won't be performing.

‘My body never betrayed me’: kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart on her journey to bodybuilding

The activist opened up about her bodybuilding journey, personal growth and evolving relationship with her body and exercise

In April, Elizabeth Smart, 38, won first place in her category in the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was Smith’s fourth bodybuilding competition – her first had been at the same event a year earlier. But despite being a public figure, no one outside her friends and family knew she had been doing this. She competed under her married name, Elizabeth Gilmour, and hadn’t posted any content about her bodybuilding.

But after her win, a friend asked if she could post about Smart’s victory on Instagram.

Dick Advocaat returns to Scotland with Curaçao before historic World Cup appearance

• Manager recalls Rangers tenure fondly before friendly

• Steve Clarke: Scotland should be qualifing regularly

A smile flashed across the face of Dick Advocaat as he was reminded that, 27 years earlier to the day, he had watched his Rangers team complete a domestic treble at Hampden Park. “I was quite successful in this stadium, so you have to be careful tomorrow,” Advocaat said. Little could anyone have known in 1999 that in 2026 Advocaat would be bringing his World Cup-bound Curaçao to Glasgow for a friendly.

During 11 minutes on Friday, Advocaat completed a verbal whistle-stop tour of everything from Martin O’Neill’s return to Celtic to his World Cup ambitions. At 78, it is remarkable to see Advocaat in this scenario. Reflections on the past in this city were inevitable. He will become the oldest coach in World Cup history when Curaçao face Germany on 14 June.

Martin Rowson on Tony Blair’s prescription for young people – cartoon

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Huge haul of weight-loss drugs seized on Northampton country estate

Two men arrested in raid in which 12,000 doses of unlicensed weight-loss medicines were recovered

A country estate near Northampton has become the centre of the largest ever seizure of unlicensed weight-loss medicines in the UK.

Two men aged 29 were arrested during a raid in which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recovered about 12,000 doses of unlicensed weight-loss medicines.

‘He was alive – you saw it in his eyes’: inside the years that shaped Mikel Arteta

In the runup to the Champions League final, the Arsenal manager’s first footballing steps in the Basque Country and Barcelona are recalled by those who shared them

The way Santi Cazorla tells it, rolling about laughing, Mikel Arteta may just be the worst person you could ever wish to watch a match with. Which is why he knew his friend would be a coach and why he told him to go away and become one, convinced great things were coming. “When we were injured at Arsenal, we used to meet at home for games, and he would grab the remote and pause it,” Cazorla recalls. “I would say: ‘What are you stopping it for?’ He would say: ‘No, go back, go back,’ rewind it 30 seconds, and then ask: ‘What do you see?’ I would say: ‘I see a paused screen. I don’t see anything!’”

So Arteta would explain. “‘Don’t you think this player is badly positioned? … If he goes a bit deeper, this space opens up … if the pivot goes there, this happens … that line should be deeper …’ I would look at him and think: ‘What’s with this guy?’” Cazorla continues, still cracking up. “He was a coach already. All game, every game: pausing, rewinding. The match is finished and we’re only in the 35th minute. ‘Do you see it?’ ‘Yes, yes, you’re right, now come on, press play.’ But I didn’t see it. I love football, I can watch it all day, but I don’t notice those things. Mikel does. I think it’s a gift.”

SpaceX skeptics have added reason for concern after Musk comments diverge from IPO filing

In a post on X, Elon Musk offered details about SpaceX's deal with Anthropic that weren't included in the company's IPO prospectus.

Oil prices on track for steepest monthly fall since 2020

Brent crude futures down 19% since end of April amid hopes of US-Iran peace deal, while stock markets rally

Oil prices are on track for their biggest monthly fall since 2020, as investors hoped for an end to the US-Israel war on Iran.

The price of Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, was down 1.3% on Friday at about $92 and 19% since the end of April.

Shrey Parikh of California wins 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in spell-off

Shrey Parikh of Rancho Cucamonga, California, emerged victorious Thursday in the 98th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Former senior CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars from agency

David Rush’s trial for allegedly taking 303 gold bars and $2m in foreign currency from agency was pushed to next week

• US politics live – latest updates

A senior intelligence operative accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40m and hiding them at home remained in custody in Virginia on Friday after a judge pushed his first court appearance to next week.

David Rush, a former executive service-level employee for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is alleged to have taken 303 bullion bars, each weighing 2.2lb (1kg), and more than $2m in foreign currency, from his government office, according to an eight-page FBI affidavit.

Brazil World Cup 2026 team guide

Unimpressive in qualification, fans will be hoping Carlo Ancelotti can get the best out of Vinícius Júnior, as he did at Real Madrid

This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.

A childcare worker was asked to take baby Lily home for the weekend after a court protection order last year. She’s still there

Exclusive: Sofie is devoted to the baby who was removed from her family, but she and advocates say the situation speaks to a desperate crisis in Victoria’s child protection system

The baby arrived at Sofie’s house at 7pm on a Friday night, along with a few bags of clothes, toys, nappies and food. No one had fed her since that morning. The case worker sat on Sofie’s couch, commenting on the decor.

Sofie*, an early childhood educator, did not know the baby well. The Melbourne childcare centre where she worked had agreed to enrol the then months’ old baby after a request from child protection, who hoped daycare would provide some stability while they worked with the baby’s mother. The baby had only attended a handful of days. Sofie had occasionally given her a cuddle in passing.

First of trapped men rescued from flooded Laos cave

Man is ‘safe and sound’ after perilous operation, leaving four inside a small chamber and two still to be located

The first of seven men who have been trapped in a flooded cave in Laos for more than a week has been brought to safety by divers, in a perilous rescue mission that has required teams to crawl through narrow, deluged tunnels, navigating sharp rocks and collapse hazards.

Four men remain inside a chamber about 300 metres (980ft) from the cave entrance, where they were found crouched and huddled together on a rocky ledge by rescuers on Wednesday. Two men are yet to be located.

Teen released by ICE wants to stay in U.S.: "Doing the right things"

Ricardo Hernandez-Navarrete graduated from high school after being released by ICE, but he and his mother still face the possibility of deportation.

Joe Biden book author reacts to Jill Biden's comments on 2024 debate: "Cut her some slack"

Vanity Fair contributor Chris Whipple, who has written books and reported extensively about former President Joe Biden's time in office, joined "CBS Mornings" to talk about former first lady Jill Biden's "CBS Sunday Morning" interview, where she shared she was "frightened" watching her husband's 2024 debate performance.

Mamdani made a play for fashion’s premier league in his custom-made Arsenal kurta

The New York mayor scored a range of responses attending Eid prayers in an outfit combining football and faith

Since Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years this month, the visibility of the club’s shirts has soared, with celebrities including Romeo Beckham and the singer Mahalia wearing them.

One particularly notable fan moment occurred when Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, wore a kurta made out of the team’s 2025-26 away kit to attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the Bronx.

Could a decades-old DNA sample solve the yogurt shop murder case?

The 1991 murder of four teenage girls in a Texas yogurt shop remains unsolved, but there's hope that advancing DNA technology will change that.

Are 2 never-identified customers key to solving yogurt shop murders?

Two men were seen in a Texas yogurt shop just before four teenage girls were killed there in 1991, and some wonder whether identifying them will lead to answers in the unsolved case.

Men wrongfully accused of yogurt shop murders declared innocent

One of the four men who was initially convicted was sent to death row in the killing of four teenagers in a crime that haunted Austin for decades.

Bullet casing at yogurt shop links serial killer to the infamous murders

"48 Hours" can exclusively report there has been a huge break in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls in a Texas yogurt shop.

If CMAT is an affront to the male gaze and Olivia Rodrigo is indulging it, how exactly should women dress? | Laura Snapes

The loud online hate aimed at two pop stars with polar-opposite styles suggests a shrinking realm of acceptability in which women can exist. That is, you suspect, the point

For an eye-catching spring/summer 2026 look, why not try one of the infinitely fun ways you can dress up misogyny? There’s buttoned-up faux concern. The haughty pince-nez of high dudgeon. The splashy feather boa of outrage. If you’re really bold, why not the full birthday suit of naked disgust? There are far more acceptable options, apparently, than there are for actually dressing as a famous female pop star in 2026. Between the parallel uproar over extremely different outfits worn recently by CMAT and by Olivia Rodrigo, it almost seems as though there are in fact no options at all for how a woman should look in public. Funny, that.

Yesterday, the Irish and American musicians each commented on recent backlash over their appearances that came from the scummy bottom of the internet. On Sunday, CMAT performed at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland. When the BBC posted clips of her performance on Instagram, comments about her body were so vile that the broadcaster had to disable them; tellingly, clips from the same festival featuring smaller-bodied female performers still have comments enabled. “It’s been very hard to try and describe how difficult the last few days since the bbcr1 big weekend have been,” CMAT posted, saying the commentary caused her “deep sadness”.

Families, investigators remain haunted by unsolved Texas yogurt shop murders

Could new information lead to answers in the brutal murder of four teenage girls in Austin, Texas, more than 30 years ago?

Kimmel on Trump: his approval numbers ‘like his testicles have sunk to an all-time low’

Late-night host spoke of more bad news for the president and criticized his ‘nonstop multi-victim retribution tour’

Jimmy Kimmel ridiculed Donald Trump over his falling approval rating while also taking shots at his crumbling anniversary concert event.

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host reminded viewers that the midterms are not too far away and a new poll has shown that 57% of Americans will definitely vote, up from the average of 40%.

Eight students rescued after being stuck at top of rollercoaster for hours in Texas

Group was unharmed after dangling for almost four hours on ride that malfunctioned at Pleasure Pier in Galveston

Eight students were rescued unharmed after dangling for hours at the top of a rollercoaster ride that became stuck in Texas.

Pictures and news footage of the incident showed a rollercoaster car stalled at the peak of a huge almost vertical drop on the Iron Shark rollercoaster overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston.

Shrey Parikh wins 2026 Scripps spelling bee after correctly spelling 32 words in 90 seconds

Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the 98th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Lilia Luciano reports.

Fish prints and shapes have UK shoppers hooked this summer

From sardines and sprats to crabs, marine life-themed fashion and homewares are making a splash

Three years after declaring the death of florals, John Lewis has discovered a new print that is making a splash among shoppers. At the launch of its new high summer collection, the retailer said fish were quickly becoming its customers’ catch of the day.

From sardines and sprats to crustaceans including crabs, its latest haul across fashion and homeware is rich in fish prints and shapes. Sales of starfish-shaped earrings are up 300% month on month, while high demand for a silky blue skirt smothered in shoals of fish has resulted in a waiting list. In homeware, sales of a set of glass tumblers that stack together to form the shape of a fish are up 400%, while a “gluggle jug” – a ceramic pitcher shaped like a fish that makes a gurgling sound as the water is poured – is becoming an outdoor dining essential. Sales of versions from Wade Pottery are up 129% month on month.

Bright and breezy: Yotam Ottolenghi on simple summer entertaining

Summertime, and the cooking is easy – or at least it should be. This is the season to spend less time in the kitchen and more round the table. Here’s how

This year, 22 February happened twice for me. The first time, I was flying from Auckland to San Francisco, crossing the international date line somewhere over the Pacific. I’ve never fully understood what actually happens at the date line. There’s an explanation – something about a group of men in Washington deciding where one day would end and another begin, drawing a line down the middle of the ocean. Knowing that doesn’t make it feel less strange. You fall asleep, and when you wake up it’s still yesterday.

Groundhog Day, except the groundhog was me, in my plane seat, eating something that had been described on the menu as a “warm pasta dish”.

Woman without right hand ticketed for holding phone says she "felt very uncomfortable"

Katie Thomas, a Florida woman who is missing her right hand, is reacting to a stunning traffic stop video that emerged showing an encounter where an officer alleged she was texting and driving - using her right hand. Cristian Benavides has more.

Nato ready to defend ‘every inch’ of territory as Russian drone hits Romania

Mark Rutte says Moscow’s ‘reckless behaviour is danger to us all’ after drone hits apartment building, while Russia denies involvement

The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, has said the alliance is “ready to defend every inch” of its territory after a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania, a member state, during an overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine.

“Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all,” Rutte wrote on social media after a call with the Romanian president, Nicuşor Dan. “I affirmed that Nato stands ready to defend every inch of allied territory.”

EU to release €16bn to Hungary previously frozen under Orbán

Decision comes as police announce policy U-turn to allow Pride parade to take place in Budapest

The EU is to release more than €16bn to Hungary that had been frozen under the rule of Viktor Orbán, with Ursula von der Leyen hailing the “winds of change” in the country since the election of Péter Magyar last month.

The decision, described as a “historic breakthrough” by the new prime minister, comes as police in Hungary have said they will allow next month’s Pride parade in Budapest to take place. Last year they sought to block the event on the orders of the government of the rightwing Orbán.

Michael Dell courted Trump early. His company has reaped rewards

The dynamic is emblematic of how business is seeking to sow favor with the president in his second term, and has departed from the norms of big business philanthropy.

Putin's cabal must be brought to trial for crimes in Ukraine. With this plan, the world can do that | Gordon Brown

A special tribunal akin to Nuremberg will not only force Russia to explain its culpability, it will show how vital it is to uphold international law

Vladimir Putin should be worried. Not since the trials of the Nazis at Nuremberg and the Japanese war criminals in Tokyo have so many world leaders made common cause to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes that have brought terror, death and misery to defenceless millions.

The decision to prosecute Putin’s cabal for the crime of aggression, reached this month after an agreement between the Council of Europe and the European Union, is historic and offers hope in an age of chaos and fracture. This special tribunal is a mechanism of practical intent but, more than that, it is a statement: that there will never again be any hiding place for those guilty of war atrocities and the needless destruction of civilian life.

EU seeks to 'intensify' talks with U.S. on advanced cyber AI models, official tells CNBC, amid Mythos concerns

Anthropic's Mythos model, which has advanced cyber abilities, has prompted a wave of concern from governments and businesses.

Trump's Oman outburst throws 'Switzerland of the Middle East' into the spotlight

The Trump administration has threatened sanctions and military action against Oman, a longtime ally and close security partner.

Don’t shoot for the moon: aiming for ‘above average’ is key to success, maths suggests

Model created by researchers shows better outcomes are often more likely when people are not too ambitious

It is the end of an idiom for motivational speakers. Instead of shooting for the moon when pursuing life’s goals, researchers say people should be advised to aim a little lower if they want the best outcome.

The tip may lack the punch of uncompromising drive, but aiming for merely above average tends to work out better, according to a mathematical model the team created to explore how ambition pans out.

Asia defense summit opens amid doubts over U.S. priorities

The Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, will also address tensions in the Middle East and Russia's war on Ukraine.

‘It’s an obsession’: one man and his family on a mission to save Europe’s glutinous snail

Ian Hughes is boosting one of the continent’s most at-risk species with science, his sons and some homemade T-shirts

Ian Hughes and his son, Ben, are driving through the hills of north Wales with an array of homemade animal artefacts rattling around their car: diagrams, plaster casts, hand-printed T-shirts. They finally reach Llyn Tegid – Bala Lake in English – where, knee-deep in the water, Ian brandishes two glutinous snails.

It is a mollusc the size of a fingertip. It is also one of Europe’s most endangered species, which Ian has dedicated himself to protecting. “It’s beyond passion,” he says. “It’s an obsession.”

Teenage boys avoid jail after rape and sexual assault of girls in north-east England

Exclusive: Calls for urgent change after rehabilitation orders and ‘laughable’ £26 in court fees in three separate cases

Three teenage boys convicted of the rape and serious sexual assault of girls as young as 14 were given rehabilitation orders and paid £26 in court fees, the Guardian has learned.

The three separate cases all took place over the past year in north-east England. They were tried under youth court rules that deal with suspects aged 17 or under and place a greater emphasis on rehabilitation than adult courts.

‘I lived near a serial killer’: Steven Shearer on turning teen angst and death metal into high art

He rarely gives interviews and hates explaining his work – yet his stunning paintings, inspired by subcultures and German Romanticism, reveal a lot about this reclusive Canadian

Steven Shearer is a quiet man. He’s elusive, too, shy and reclusive. He is difficult to pin down for an interview. And once you have, it is tough to get him talking. Maybe the Canadian artist thinks his work – spanning 40 years and multiple media, including stunning paintings of long-haired teens, collages of appropriated images, and billboard-sized poetry inspired by heavy metal lyrics – speaks for itself. But Shearer’s work doesn’t really speak, at least not clearly; it mumbles awkwardly into its sleeve like a goth at a family Easter picnic.

“I wrote down lots of potential things to say,” he says from his immaculate white studio in Vancouver, ahead of his show at David Zwirner Gallery in London, his first UK exhibition since 2007, “but it’s not my nature. All the hope or will to be able to communicate kind of goes into the pictures. And I try to stay out of the way once that’s happened.”

‘How often I’m called a paedophile online is shocking’: inside Russell T Davies’s horrifying drama about rising hatred

The creator of It’s a Sin is back – and he’s furious. His new series, Tip Toe, explores the rise of homophobia through a feud between two Manchester neighbours. He and stars Alan Cumming and David Morrissey talk death, fear and ‘joy as a form of protest’

Late at night on Manchester’s Canal Street, the heart of the city’s famous queer scene, two neighbours are at war. An escalating feud between gay bar manager Leo (Alan Cumming) and reserved, judgmental neighbour Clive (David Morrissey) shows no sign of abating. Yells from Leo are so loud they echo down the canal. The street is not closed to the public as their altercation plays out, so you can’t tell who in the background is an employee at Leo’s bar, Spit & Polish, who is a regular, and who is a member of the public out for their midweek pint. In the background, an ambulance’s lights flash while unflappable drag queens continue to flyer for their neighbouring bars.

Russell T Davies’s Tip Toe, a new Channel 4 drama, looks at how political rhetoric, toxic online bullying and misinformation can add jet fuel to a feud between neighbours. The location of the series won’t be lost on viewers of Queer As Folk. The 1999 classic, which regularly featured scenes shot in Canal Street, followed the lives of three gay men, in a way that not only made being gay seem cool, it also reflected a new era of tolerance. Viewers took from it that the future could only be bright.

Cocktail of the week: 2210 by Natty Can Cook’s scotch bonnet margarita – recipe | The good mixer

A margarita with an aromatic kick from south London’s coolest Caribbean eatery

Don’t be put off by the name, because this isn’t blow-your-head-off hot – the scotch bonnet infusion is quick, so the flavour is subtle and aromatic, rather than aggressive. The chilli-infused base would also work in other classic tequila cocktails, especially a spicy vampiro.

Nathaniel Mortley, chef/owner, 2210 by Natty Can Cook, London SE24

‘I should not be allowed to do interviews’: Nish Kumar on courting controversy and clashing with comics

The former Mash Report star’s latest show takes aim at his manosphere-courting, Saudi comedy festival-attending peers. Could he be the angry progressive standup we need right now?

Nish Kumar – mop of curly hair, Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, fancy coffee shop cookie in hand – is sitting centimetres away from me in a meeting room in his publicist’s offices in Soho, central London. Nevertheless, another comedian is drawing the eye. On the wall is a massive poster promoting Prime Video’s Last One Laughing UK – and looming over us from the centre of the frame is the show’s host, Jimmy Carr.

This feels, let’s just say, a tad ironic. In Kumar’s last standup show, he recalled the time he furiously confronted Carr about his decision to appear on manosphere influencer Jordan Peterson’s podcast. (“This is a radicalisation event that’s happening on an unprecedented scale,” he told Carr.) Then there’s the blurb for his upcoming tour, Angry Humour from a Really Nice Guy, in which Kumar expresses concern that comedy has been “co-opted by charlatans in service of autocrats” – partly a reference to last autumn’s Riyadh comedy festival, where Carr performed.

Israel, Lebanon officials to meet. And, judge won't block Trump's mail-in voting order

Israel and Lebanon officials are set to meet today as U.S.-Iran peace talks continue. And, a federal judge declined to block Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting.

Tell us: have you had a holiday disaster that could have inspired a TV show?

We would like to hear your stories of nightmare holidays that wouldn’t be out of place on screen

With the release of Two Weeks in August, along with new series of Four Seasons and White Lotus, it seems we can’t get enough TV about holidays from hell.

With this in mind, we would like to hear your own stories of holiday mishaps. Do you have a nightmare holiday story that could have inspired a TV show? Tell us all about it below.

Baby otters make a splash and a JD Vance chest bump: photos of the day – Friday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Gullah Geechee people offered chance to save family properties passed down through generations

A new South Carolina act will exempt some heirs’ property owners from increased property taxes

In a move that protects vulnerable people from forced property sales, South Carolina recently enacted an act that could help families keep land that has been passed down for generations. The Heirs’ Property Tax Relief Act, signed into law by Henry McMaster, the state’s governor, on 15 May, prevents counties from reassessing property values when heirs clear their property titles, or resolve disputes about the ownership.

The act allows families with heirs’ properties – land inherited by multiple owners who are not listed on the title – to transfer the title between family members without their real estate taxes increasing. Gullah Geechee people, the descendants of formerly enslaved west Africans who retained their culture and customs, are especially vulnerable to heirs’ property issues. They can lead to their homes being sold at annual auctions for delinquent tax payments, predatory development and interfamily fighting.