Sean Mcpolin

An inquest heard that teenagers Adam Dudzinski and Chloe-Ann Naylor drowned after their car overturned in a water-filled ditch near Sittingbourne, Kent. Adam, who was unlicensed and uninsured, apologized to Chloe as they remained trapped in the submerged Ford Fiesta. A third passenger survived after escaping the vehicle. Investigators found no evidence of speeding but said the car was likely travelling too fast for the road conditions. The Crown Prosecution Service declined to pursue charges against Adam’s guardian due to insufficient evidence. The coroner recorded accidental death verdicts and expressed condolences to the families.

Klaudia Przybyło, a 35-year-old Polish national living in London, has been missing since she was last heard from on April 24. Her family says her phone remains inactive and is urgently asking her to make contact and appealing to the public for information. Przybyło, who is believed to have worked at The Connaught hotel in Mayfair, was last known to live in Haringey and is described as 5ft 3in tall with long dark-blonde hair, blue eyes, a slender build and an infinity tattoo on her right wrist. Relatives have urged anyone with information to contact police immediately.

Jakob Davies, a 25-year-old factory worker from Scarborough, suffered severe head, foot, ankle and spinal injuries after falling from a three-storey balcony at a hotel in Albufeira during a Portugal stag weekend. He remains in a Faro hospital and may not walk without urgent surgery. His mother, Claire Gerrard, fears the family will face substantial medical and repatriation costs because his travel insurer is reviewing whether alcohol-related exclusions apply. Family and friends have launched a GoFundMe appeal, while insurance experts urge travellers to check policy terms covering alcohol use abroad.

A heatwave across the UK is expected to break down as exceptionally warm, humid air from continental Europe clashes with cooler Atlantic air, creating conditions for severe thunderstorms. Storms may begin in southwest England and Wales from around 3pm on Sunday, spreading through the Midlands, northwest England, Yorkshire, the northeast, London, southeast England and Scotland into Monday. Northern Ireland is expected to see the heatwave end on Monday night, with heavy rain continuing into Tuesday. The storms could bring torrential rain, lightning, hail and flash flooding, although temperatures are likely to remain above average next week.

Kevin Kerjean, 31, has been charged with murder, rape of a child under 13 and sexual assault of a child under 13 after a two-year-old girl was found dead at a home on Pyrcroft Road in Chertsey, Surrey. He appeared at Guildford Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody, with a further hearing scheduled at Guildford Crown Court. Surrey Police's Major Crime Team is investigating, believes the incident occurred within a family setting, and is not seeking anyone else in connection with the death. Floral tributes have been left nearby while police inquiries continue.

Four-year-old Kassim Benouali and his two-year-old brother Sadek died after being found unresponsive in a car parked outside their grandmother’s home in Carpentras during a severe French heatwave. Their grandmother described the deaths as a genuine mistake and rejected speculation that anything suspicious or illegal had occurred. The children’s mother, Wafa, is being investigated after reportedly becoming distracted while unloading shopping, although later accounts suggested the boys may have entered and become trapped in the vehicle. A preliminary post-mortem examination attributed the deaths to dehydration caused by extreme heat, with temperatures inside the car potentially reaching 70°C. The brothers were buried together as police continued investigating a possible charge of unintentional manslaughter.

Brody Leach, 22, was found dead in the River Severn near Shrewsbury after entering the water during the UK heatwave and failing to return. Friends and a former teacher remembered him as a well-liked, charismatic person. West Mercia Police confirmed his identification and said it would increase patrols along the river. The death follows another heatwave-related drowning in Wales and renewed warnings about cold-water shock and the risks of open-water swimming. The Mirror’s Save Lives for Sam campaign is calling for compulsory school water-safety lessons, greater public awareness, improved lifesaving equipment and a dedicated minister for water safety.

A Booking.com survey found that 59% of UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe expect delays from the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), while 56% plan to arrive at airports earlier and 12% intend to arrive at least four hours before departure. The system requires non-EU travellers, including Britons, to register fingerprints and photographs when entering the Schengen Area. Airports Council International has reported delays of up to three hours, and more than 100 easyJet passengers recently missed a Milan-to-Manchester flight during intensified checks. Travellers are advised to verify passport requirements, allow extra time and keep essential items in hand luggage. Demand for holidays in Greece has also risen after the country said it would not apply the requirements to UK travellers this summer.

JCB chairman Lord Anthony Bamford has indicated that his youngest son, George Bamford, will succeed him as head of the £6.5 billion construction-equipment company, despite expectations that eldest son Joseph would inherit the role. George has become JCB deputy chairman and is being prepared to lead the business, which operates 22 factories and employs about 19,000 people. Joseph, an experienced JCB executive and entrepreneur who owns Ryze Hydrogen and Wrightbus, has reportedly challenged his father’s leadership and criticized inheritance-tax pressures on family firms. The succession plan has not yet received formal board approval, and the decision highlights longstanding tensions within the Bamford family business dynasty.

Scott Hastings, Scotland's most-capped male centre and a former British & Irish Lions player, died aged 61 on 17 May 2026 after a four-year battle with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. His death occurred on the birthday of his late wife, Jenny, whose body was found in 2024 after she disappeared while swimming in Edinburgh's Wardie Bay amid longstanding mental-health struggles. Family members asked for privacy, while Scottish Rugby and former colleagues including Ian McGeechan and Gregor Townsend paid tribute to Hastings' playing career, leadership and impact on Scottish rugby. The Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame inductee will be commemorated by a half-mast flag at Murrayfield.

An elite Finnish-led European diving team dispatched by Divers Alert Network Europe is travelling to the Maldives to recover four Italian tourists believed trapped in an underwater cave near Vaavu Atoll. The group’s instructor, Gianluca Benedetti, has been recovered, but a Maldivian military diver died during earlier efforts. Dangerous depths, bad weather, limited equipment and possible sharks are complicating the operation. Authorities are investigating whether oxygen toxicity contributed to the deaths, while operator Albatros Top Boat denies that dives exceeded permitted limits.

Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself before warships under storm clouds, overlaid with the words “CALM BEFORE THE STORM.” The post appeared amid reports that the United States and Israel were preparing for possible renewed strikes against Iran following a fragile ceasefire. The phrase recalls Trump’s 2017 warning that prompted speculation about military action. Critics said the image could inflame tensions and spread fear, while supporters viewed it as a projection of strength. The episode also reflects the growing use of AI-generated or AI-enhanced imagery by Trump and government agencies for political and public messaging.

Amanda Knox is scheduled to debut her stand-up show, “Cartwheel,” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, but the performance has sparked backlash because it is expected to reference the murder investigation into Meredith Kercher’s death. Kercher’s family lawyer Francesco Maresca called the show offensive and deplorable, while critics questioned whether the case should be used for comedy. The show’s title reportedly alludes to cartwheels Knox performed during the investigation. Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were ultimately acquitted, while Rudy Guede served 16 years for the killing. Festival organizer Gilded Balloon has not commented publicly.

Displaced families in Gaza’s tent camps report severe rat, weasel, flea and mosquito infestations, with children suffering bites and illness. Waste accumulation, raw sewage and destroyed infrastructure have created conditions that aid agencies describe as a worsening public-health emergency. A United Nations survey found pests in 80% of displacement sites, affecting about 1.45 million people, while the World Health Organization reported more than 111,500 infestation-related disease cases. UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent waste removal and restoration of sanitation systems before rising temperatures intensify the crisis.

Texas mother April Fields went to hospital at eight weeks pregnant with severe stomach pain, expecting doctors to find a cyst, but learned she was carrying quadruplets. Despite doctors warning that the high-risk pregnancy could have better survival odds if one fetus was reduced, Fields and her husband Shawnpail refused. She gave birth by caesarean in July 2025 to three boys—Artemis, Denahi and Curtis—and a girl, Eudora. The premature babies spent weeks in neonatal intensive care but were eventually discharged, completing the couple’s family of nine.

Amy McCarthy, 32, of Tranmere, admitted two thefts from a Tesco store in Claughton and received a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order from Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. The order bars her from Birkenhead Town Centre, all Tesco stores across the Wirral, Vue Cinema in Birkenhead and a wider exclusion zone, while also prohibiting unauthorized interference with vehicles and requiring her to leave businesses when asked. Police said breaches could result in arrest and imprisonment and emphasized the wider impact of retail theft on businesses and consumers.

Russian forces are reportedly using FPV drones to scatter small “Pryanik,” or gingerbread-shaped, mines across residential areas of Kherson, creating hidden dangers for civilians and children alongside ongoing drone attacks. Humanitarian worker Yuriy Boyechko says the city has become a minefield, with residents confined to basements and aid deliveries made hazardous by aerial surveillance and strikes. Ukrainian officials warn that the mines can be triggered by very light pressure, may be difficult to detect, and are overwhelming limited demining capacity. Official figures cited in the report say 1,431 people, including 147 children, have been injured by mines and explosive remnants of war since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were photographed having lunch in Mayfair amid renewed scrutiny of their parents’ links to Jeffrey Epstein. Body-language analyst Judi James said Beatrice appeared strained and withdrawn, while Eugenie seemed more comfortable projecting resilience. The sisters have largely avoided public appearances as the scandal has intensified, although they remain close and are expected to attend selected royal events. Their father, Prince Andrew, has withdrawn from public life, while Sarah Ferguson is also maintaining a low profile. Both princesses were reportedly included in Epstein files released by the US State Department, and they chose not to attend the King’s Easter gathering despite having joined the royal family at Christmas.

An easyJet flight from Gatwick to Antalya was diverted to Kosovo after a woman allegedly drank vodka, spat at another passenger and became involved in escalating disorder alongside a male passenger. Witnesses described fights, threats and distressed children onboard the Airbus A320. Kosovo police removed both individuals, and the flight reached Antalya about three hours late. easyJet said it does not tolerate disruptive behavior and prioritizes the safety of customers and crew. The incident is presented amid calls for tougher measures against unruly airline passengers.

The Met Office has warned that weather across the UK could become increasingly unsettled during the early May bank holiday weekend, with low-pressure systems bringing showers, longer spells of rain and occasional strong winds. Conditions are expected to remain changeable into mid-May, although drier and more settled weather may develop later in the month.

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly seeking a new private refuge after photographs exposed her stay at the Mayrlife luxury spa near Salzburg, where she had largely secluded herself. Her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are said to be worried, while friends are reportedly helping her find accommodation. The search comes amid renewed scrutiny of Ferguson’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and a request from a US congressional subcommittee for her to answer questions about their links. Ferguson has denied wrongdoing, and commentator Tom Sykes has questioned how she funded the expensive spa stay.

A manifesto allegedly sent by Cole Tomas Allen to family members about ten minutes before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner reportedly detailed his weapons, targets and rules of engagement. Allen allegedly said he was prepared to shoot through bystanders to reach senior government officials, while claiming he hoped to minimize casualties. Donald Trump and other officials, including JD Vance, were rushed to safety after shots were fired; an officer survived after being protected by a bulletproof vest, and Allen was tackled and arrested. Investigators are examining the manifesto’s evidence of advance planning, violent intent and possible security failures at the Washington Hilton.

Donald Trump compared himself with Abraham Lincoln after an armed man breached security at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. Trump said that people who make the greatest impact are more likely to be targeted. The suspect, identified as Cole Allen, reportedly carried guns and knives, ran through a metal detector, and was tackled before reaching the ballroom; an officer was shot but protected by a ballistic vest. The incident has prompted criticism of security procedures and revived comparisons with the 1981 shooting of Ronald Reagan at the Washington Hilton, while Trump’s previous encounters with would-be attackers were also discussed.

Cole Tomas Allen allegedly sent a manifesto to relatives shortly before opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at Washington’s Hilton hotel. In it, he claimed he entered the venue armed without attracting attention, mocked what he saw as major security gaps, and described plans to target senior Trump administration officials. One officer was shot but survived, while Donald Trump, JD Vance and other officials were evacuated; Allen was tackled and detained. Authorities are investigating his manifesto, weapons purchases, political radicalization and possible links to The Wide Awakes, while the incident has renewed scrutiny of Secret Service protection and security at major political events.

Police in Rhuddlan, North Wales, stopped a Range Rover after reports of erratic driving and found that its driver had no licence or insurance. Officers then learned that the vehicle had been stolen earlier that morning from outside its owner's home. The driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, aggravated unauthorised taking, unlicensed and uninsured driving, and drug driving, and remained in custody. Police thanked members of the public for reporting the vehicle and said it would be returned to its owner.