Nicola Slawson

UK parents describe relying on flexible working, shared childcare rotas, term-time employment, holiday clubs, savings and detailed spreadsheets to cover school holidays that far exceed their annual leave. Research cited in the piece estimates that six weeks of childcare can cost up to £1,145 per child, while many parents say the strain harms their careers. A nine-family rota in east London has saved thousands by sharing supervision and free activities, while other families have reduced work or changed careers to manage costs. Parents nevertheless report stress, limited opportunities for children, and inadequate provision for children with special educational needs.

Meta’s Ray-Ban smartglasses reportedly sold more than 7 million pairs in 2025, prompting sharply divided reactions. Users such as Servaas value the camera and immersive experience, while Nikki says the AI features are transformative for her as a blind person. Others report that accessibility tools, particularly live captions, perform poorly in noisy group settings. Critics including Kiki and Pete fear covert filming, extensive data collection and inadequate regulation, arguing that stronger privacy and safety safeguards are needed before the glasses become commonplace.

Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen accuse Republicans in Congress of surrendering constitutional authority to Donald Trump over the Iran war. Trump is also considering withdrawing Todd Blanche’s attorney-general nomination while retaining him in an acting role amid a dispute with Republican senators over a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund and tax immunity. Other developments include a mass-crossing tragedy in Ceuta, a Seattle police chief’s resignation, AI-related hacking incidents, wildfire evacuations in southern France, a threatened UEFA boycott of FIFA competitions, and growing anxiety among Chinese workers about AI-driven job losses. The briefing also features reviews and commentary on Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Europe’s climate crisis.

Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on more than 80 countries, including the UK, EU, Canada, Mexico, India and China, replacing a blanket 10% duty after the US supreme court ruled many earlier tariffs illegal. The administration says the measures target countries involved in forced labor, a justification that has drawn criticism from affected governments. Other developments include an investigation into a rare cancer cluster among children in California, Trump’s consideration of a major attack on Iran amid rising oil prices, a life sentence for the killer of Minnesota lawmaker Mark Hortman and his wife, and violence in the northern West Bank. Health advisers narrowly supported easier access to some wellness peptides, protests continued in India after Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, and Canada faced more than 900 wildfires. The briefing also covers the rising cost of secondhand fashion, a correction to Ryan Gosling’s La La Land poster, a proposed $1.5tn US defense budget and Elon Musk’s admission that he became overly consumed by politics during his alliance with Trump.

At CPAC GB in London, Australian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie described conservatives as being in a war against mass immigration, “leftwing globalists” and “woke” institutions, and urged rightwing movements in English-speaking countries to unite. She argued for a more selective Australian migration program and criticised transgender rights, net-zero policies and renewable-energy developments. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson made similar remarks at the conference, prompting criticism from Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, Labor frontbencher Andrew Charlton and deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume, who defended multiculturalism and condemned the rhetoric as divisive.

Pauline Hanson used a CPAC conference in London to argue that mass immigration, multiculturalism, Islam, net-zero policies and “woke” ideology were driving cultural decline in Britain and Australia. Her remarks drew criticism from Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and the government’s Islamophobia envoy, who warned that such rhetoric could have violent consequences. Hanson also denied reports of a split with One Nation colleague Barnaby Joyce after appearing on a podcast with far-right activist Tommy Robinson, although Joyce publicly disagreed with her claim that Islam is based on terrorism. The report also examines controversy over Hanson’s attendance at a Dolce & Gabbana event in Sicily with Gina Rinehart and uncertainty over who paid her travel costs.

The briefing leads with scrutiny of US military justice after US Air Force pilot Jacob Wulfson was convicted of strangling British academic Sarah Steele in England but acquitted of sexual assault, prompting questions about why UK authorities ceded the case to the US military. It also covers condemnation of Supreme Court rulings that enabled the Trump administration to restrict immigration protections and asylum access, devastating earthquakes in Venezuela that killed at least 235 people, warnings of possible Russian provocations near NATO’s eastern flank, and Xi Jinping’s growing diplomatic influence. Additional items highlight Toy Story 5, rising billionaire wealth and a proposed California billionaire tax, an unprecedented European heatwave linked to the climate crisis, and a scientist’s award-winning work decoding zebra finch calls.

A record-breaking heatwave swept western Europe, with temperatures reaching 35.8C in West Sussex, above 40C in parts of France and 39.3C in northern Spain. France expanded its red heat alert to 72 mainland departments, while Italy and Belgium also issued severe warnings. The heat disrupted schools, transport and workplaces, disproportionately affecting outdoor workers and people with health conditions, and reduced French nuclear power output because of cooling-water constraints. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that rising European temperatures are increasing the severity of future heat extremes and urged investment in climate-resilient health systems and faster climate action.

A Russian drone strike on an apartment building in Galați, Romania, injured two people and prompted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to reaffirm that the alliance would defend every inch of allied territory. Sweden announced plans to provide Gripen fighters to Ukraine. In Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli forces to seek control of 70% of the territory, threatening an already fragile ceasefire and worsening humanitarian conditions. In the US, civil-liberties groups accused a Trump-backed Memphis crime taskforce of intimidating community observers, while Ryan Fournier was arrested on domestic-violence charges and the administration promoted a proposed Trump portrait currency bill. A Blue Origin rocket explosion endangered NASA lunar-base plans; other sections covered Shannon O’Connor’s prison sentence, Marilyn Monroe’s legacy, Paul McCartney’s new album, Jamaica’s potential oil drilling and a Dutch anti-litter campaign exchanging cigarette butts for food.

Britain is experiencing exceptionally hot May weather, with temperatures exceeding 35C in parts of England and vulnerable groups facing heightened health risks. Five people describe the effects of the heat, including unbearable hospital conditions, the difficulty older residents have adapting to sudden temperature changes, sleeping outdoors to stay cool, the benefits of climate-conscious home renovations and concerns about children’s wellbeing and future. The accounts highlight inadequate cooling in public buildings, the need for better heat education and infrastructure investment, and the broader emotional and practical consequences of a warming climate.

US immigration enforcement flights increased sharply under Donald Trump, with ICE estimated to have emitted 335,876 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2025 and likely to exceed that figure in 2026. The roundup also reports US strikes on Iranian missile sites and mine-laying vessels during an ongoing ceasefire, Republican criticism of Trump's reported Iran deal, and WHO warnings that an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is outpacing response efforts. Other items cover Japan's tax dispute, Russian threats toward Kyiv, the disappearance of a German woman, the identification of a US soldier killed in World War II, the Netflix drama Nemesis, student opposition to pro-AI graduation speeches, severe weather in Michigan, and controversy over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding guest-list policy.

The United States and Iran appear to have made substantial progress toward a possible agreement to end their war, although Iran cautions that signing is not imminent and Donald Trump says negotiations must not be rushed. Republican hawks criticize the proposed deal, while ousted congressman Thomas Massie warns that Trump’s military actions and other policies have alienated key constituencies ahead of the midterm elections. Other developments include the evacuation of about 50,000 people near a potentially explosive chemical tank in Garden Grove, investigations into child-abuse allegations in Paris schools, Sweden’s plans to emphasize IVF, and evidence of growing dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin among Russian elites. The briefing also covers ageism in film, youth climate litigation against the US government, criticism of the Democratic Party’s 2024 election autopsy, nature-based climate solutions and a robot theme park in South Korea.

Donald Trump warned Iran that time was running out to reach a peace agreement, as Israel considered whether fighting could resume and the UAE blamed Iran or its proxies for a drone-related fire near a nuclear facility. In US politics, Trump attacked Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie before a Republican primary, while a union warned that rushed work on Washington’s National Mall reflecting pool could endanger workers. The briefing also covers ICE’s handling of a citizen’s violent arrest, criticism of a Christian prayer rally, the global shift from oil toward renewables, an early North American bee swarm season linked to climate concerns, Ebola-related health alerts, and a peacock population overrunning an Italian seaside town.

The Iran war has prompted Britons to revise summer travel plans because of fears over flight cancellations, jet-fuel shortages, petrol costs and wider disruption. Travellers have switched from driving or flying to trains, coaches and ferries, while some have cancelled trips altogether. Interviewees describe higher costs and uncertainty but also see overland travel as a more flexible, enjoyable and lower-carbon alternative.

Tenants across England were served section 21 no-fault eviction notices in the days and hours before the practice was banned on 1 May under the Renters’ Rights Act. A Brighton tenant facing financial hardship, 12 residents of a Birmingham building, an older woman in Barnet and a single mother in Leeds describe shock, fears of homelessness, unaffordable replacement housing and disruption to health, family life and support networks. Solicitors reported a surge in last-minute notices, while tenants and advocates questioned whether the transition period had allowed landlords to evade the new protections. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government defended the ban’s rapid implementation and said the sector had been given time to prepare.

Donald Trump says the US Navy will help guide ships trapped by the Iran war through the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings from Iran’s military that foreign forces entering the waterway will be attacked. The roundup also covers new felony charges against former FBI director James Comey, evidence that rising debt burdens disproportionately harm women in developing countries, and the likely economic effects of the Middle East conflict. Other items address a suspected hantavirus outbreak, Rudy Giuliani’s hospitalization, the discovery of potential circumbinary planets, opposition to USA Rugby’s transgender participation ban, instability at the Pentagon, climate talks focused on moving away from fossil fuels, and the rescue of 1,500 beagles from a controversial research facility.

Donald Trump threatens to withdraw US troops from Germany, Italy and Spain while criticizing NATO allies over their reluctance to support the US war on Iran, deepening tensions with European governments. A Senate Democrat accuses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of exaggerating the military situation, while prosecutors release footage linked to an alleged attempt by Cole Tomas Allen to attack Trump at a White House correspondents’ dinner. CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi warns of growing corporate and editorial interference after a segment about Venezuelans imprisoned in El Salvador was shelved or delayed. The briefing also reports on a Supreme Court ruling affecting minority-majority voting districts, declining global press freedom, FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election plans, a more economically anxious sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, controversy over a dress linked to Shein, and optimism at a Colombian climate meeting focused on ending the fossil-fuel era.

The gradual rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System has caused severe delays at European airports and other border crossings, with some travellers waiting up to four hours and missing flights. Travellers report malfunctioning or unavailable kiosks, repeated registration requirements, inadequate signage, few staff, poor seating and insufficient assistance for children, pregnant passengers and elderly people. Several people incurred substantial extra costs or cancelled future trips, while airports and airlines appeared unable to provide clear explanations or accept responsibility for the disruption.

Cole Tomas Allen is expected to face federal charges after allegedly shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner, with investigators examining anti-Trump motives and whether Donald Trump was targeted. US-Iran peace efforts remain stalled as both sides refuse major concessions. Severe weather has killed at least two people in Texas, while wildfires continue in Georgia. Other coverage includes US military strikes on an alleged drug boat, a proposed California voter-ID requirement, worsening water shortages in Gaza, the strong opening of the Michael Jackson biopic, progressive Christian opposition to Trump-aligned politics, the Titan submersible disaster, and research linking chemical exposure and climate change to declining fertility. Sabastian Sawe also became the first person to run an official marathon in under two hours, recording 1:59:30 in London.

Iranian forces seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran and the United States maintained separate blockades, placing stalled peace negotiations at risk. Iranian parliament speaker and lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said reopening the waterway would be impossible while he said the US and Israel continued to breach the ceasefire. Donald Trump extended the ceasefire while demanding a unified Iranian negotiating position, and the White House said Iran was in a weak position. Other coverage includes a closely contested California governor’s debate, the immediate departure of Navy Secretary John Phelan amid reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a court challenge to new Virginia congressional maps, EU-US tensions over a Balkan pipeline contract, and South Korea’s apology over a fighter-jet collision. The briefing also reports that the global billionaire population could approach 4,000 by 2031, warns that extreme heat is pushing food systems toward a crisis, and describes damage allegedly caused to Florence’s Neptune fountain by a tourist.

Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon after conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a summit planned and Hezbollah’s disarmament remaining an Israeli condition. Lebanese authorities cautioned displaced residents against returning while shelling continued. Newly unsealed records in California’s antitrust case allege that Amazon pressured sellers to keep competitors’ prices higher; Amazon denies price-fixing. R&B singer D4vd was arrested in Los Angeles over the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, while his lawyers maintain his innocence. Other updates include Erica Schwartz’s selection to lead the CDC, an ICE leadership change, a Democratic victory in a New Jersey special election, rising religious commitment among young US men, Justin Trudeau’s unconventional post-premiership public profile, Colombia and the Netherlands’ fossil-fuel transition initiative, and Pete Hegseth’s apparent use of dialogue from Pulp Fiction as a Bible quotation.

A two-week Iran ceasefire is at risk after Iran and Pakistan said it covered Lebanon, while Israel and Donald Trump argued that Lebanon was outside the agreement. Israel launched its heaviest attack of the war on more than 100 targets, killing at least 254 people, prompting condemnation from UN rights chief Volker Türk; Iran also halted oil-tanker traffic and accused Israel and the US of violating the truce. Other coverage reports charges against an alleged firebombing plot linked to the extremist JDL 613 Brotherhood, the conviction of Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig for attempted manslaughter, and Rex Heuermann’s guilty plea in the Gilgo Beach murders. The briefing also covers market volatility, a deadly rise in whooping cough after Mississippi vaccine-rule rollbacks, emperor penguins’ endangered status amid collapsing Antarctic sea ice, and the global spread of Korean fried chicken.