Bard president Leon Botstein stepping down after inquiry into his Epstein ties 01. May 2026 (23:52) Investigation found Botstein – who had claimed he wasn’t friends with Epstein – made 25 visits to his townhouseLeon Botstein has announced he is stepping down from the helm of Bard College, after an independent review of his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein found the college president’s frequent interactions with the convicted sex offender “could have alerted” him to the possibility that he and Bard would be facilitating Epstein’s abuse of women.An investigation by the WilmerHale law firm, which had been commissioned by Bard’s board of trustees earlier this year to review Botstein’s interactions with Epstein, found the Bard president – who had previously claimed he was not friends with Epstein – made about 25 visits to Epstein’s townhouse, a two-day visit to Epstein’s Little St James Island, and that there were two visits by Epstein to Bard. These visits, WilmerHale reported, included “multiple women” who have since been identified as victims of Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump claims hostilities have ended in Iran in letter to congressional leaders 01. May 2026 (23:18) President seemed to suggest that legislative deadline to approve war no longer applies as Democrats push backUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump said in a letter sent to congressional leaders on Friday that hostilities with Iran have “terminated”, suggesting that the 60-day deadline to seek approval from the legislative branch no longer applied.Friday marks 60 days since the US president notified members of Congress that the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February. Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the president can deploy troops to respond to an “imminent threat” but must receive congressional approval within 60 days to continue military operations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ancient Roman gravestone found in New Orleans back yard returned to Italy 01. May 2026 (22:11) Nearly 2,000-year-old artifact handed over by FBI matches piece missing from museum near Rome for decadesA nearly 2,000-year-old Roman grave marker discovered in a New Orleans backyard has now been returned to Italy.The marble epitaph – dating back roughly 1,900 years – was officially handed over to Italian officials in Rome on Wednesday during a ceremony led by the FBI. The event also marked the repatriation of another antiquity recovered in the US, the agency said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands in US join ‘no school, no work, no shopping’ May Day protest and economic blackout 01. May 2026 (21:20) Walkouts, marches and other gatherings held for ‘May Day Strong’ demonstrations across the countryMay Day protests across US draw huge crowds – in picturesThousands have joined an economic blackout for International Workers’ Day, as part of 3,500 “May Day Strong” events across the country today. Organizers have called for “no school, no work, no shopping” with walkouts, marches, block parties and demonstrations held outside of institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange .This afternoon in Manhattan, protesters from the youth-led Sunrise Movement chained themselves to the front of the stock exchange while more sat blocking the exits to the property. They were joined by about 100 protesters before being arrested and removed about an hour later. A small crowd remained, playing music and chanting: “Tax the rich!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pope appoints former undocumented immigrant as bishop of West Virginia 01. May 2026 (21:15) Leo, who has criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policy, selected Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as state’s new bishopSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPope Leo XIV has appointed a man who had once entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant, hidden in the trunk of a car, as the new bishop of West Virginia.The pope approved the resignation of Bishop Mark E Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, and selected Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, of Washington to take his place, reported OSV News. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oscars changes allow for double acting nominations while banning AI 01. May 2026 (21:12) The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has also rewritten rules on international film eligibilityThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a number of major changes for the Oscars on Friday, including a new policy allowing multiple nominations for a single actor in one category, as well as barring acting and writing awards for work done by AI.According to new statutes decreed by the group’s board of governors, only performances “demonstrably performed” by humans with their consent will be eligible for acting Oscars, while only human-authored screenplays can be up for any writing awards. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer says Polanski ‘is not fit to lead a political party’ after Golders Green police criticism 01. May 2026 (20:09) Green leader apologises for sharing post that said officers were ‘repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head’ and says he had did so ‘in haste’Keir Starmer has condemned Zack Polanski as “disgraceful” and unfit to head a political party after the Greens’ leader shared a social media post critical of the way police tackled the suspect in the Golders Green stabbings.The prime minister said any criticism of the police involved in the arrest was unfair on officers having to make split-second decisions in a moment of potentially grave danger. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Small plane crash in Texas Hill Country leaves five dead 01. May 2026 (19:49) All people onboard Cessna 421C dead after crash late at night in city 40 miles south-west of state capital AustinA small plane crashed among trees in Texas Hill Country, killing all five people onboard, officials said on Friday.The crash happened in the dark late on Thursday night in Wimberley, a city about 40 miles south-west of the state capital, Austin, the Hays county judge, Ruben Becerra, said in a post on Facebook. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK defence firm Ultra Electronics to pay £15m after SFO bribery investigation 01. May 2026 (19:27) Company accepts it failed to prevent bribery in connection with contracts in Algeria and Oman sought through agentsThe British defence company Ultra Electronics has accepted responsibility for a failure to prevent bribery and agreed to pay £15m after an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.The penalties are part of a deferred prosecution approved by the high court on Friday, after an investigation opened in 2018 when the company referred itself to the UK law enforcement agency a month after corruption allegations were published by Algerian media. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump tears up EU tariff deal and raises some import duties 01. May 2026 (19:20) US president says tariff on cars and lorries will rise to 25% and accuses European Union of non-complianceDonald Trump has said he is tearing up part of the tariff deal he struck with EU leaders at his golf course in Scotland last summer, criticising Brussels for taking so long to ratify the deal.Blindsiding Brussels late on Friday, a public holiday in much of Europe, he announced that he would be increasing tariffs on cars and lorries imported into the US from the EU from 15% to 25% from next week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
