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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
The Victorian Labor government plans to strengthen penalties for young offenders after police dropped 109 charges against a 14-year-old girl due to a law protecting children under 14 from certain criminal convictions. The girl was accused of many crimes, including stealing cars and making antisemitic threats, but prosecutors could not prove she understood her actions were seriously wrong.
Key Facts
A 14-year-old girl faced 109 charges for crimes allegedly committed when she was 13.
Charges included endangering serious injury, car theft, burglary, and antisemitic behavior.
Police dropped the charges because of the doli incapax law, which protects children under 14 unless it’s proven they knew their actions were very wrong.
The girl allegedly committed crimes for two months, sometimes more than once a day.
She was reported to have searched online information about sentencing after hitting a cyclist with a stolen car.
The government said youth crime is becoming more serious and promised tougher laws and punishments.
Opposition politicians criticized the justice system for failing to hold the girl accountable.
Other Australian states are considering changes to the doli incapax law.
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A man named Lu Jianwang was found guilty of acting as an illegal foreign agent by running a secret Chinese police station in New York City's Chinatown. He was also convicted of deleting text messages to hide orders from Chinese authorities that aimed to silence and intimidate pro-democracy activists.
Key Facts
Lu Jianwang, 64, was convicted in a Brooklyn federal court.
He ran a secret Chinese police outpost in Manhattan’s Chinatown starting in 2022.
The outpost was one of 30 secret Chinese police stations reportedly set up worldwide by China’s Ministry of Public Security.
Lu deleted text messages containing instructions from Beijing to harass dissidents.
He was found not guilty of a related conspiracy charge.
Lu is a longtime U.S. citizen who also goes by the name Harry Lu.
He remains free on bail and plans to appeal the verdict.
His potential prison time is up to 10 years for illegal foreign agent activities and 20 years for obstructing justice.
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The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) spokesperson denied reports that the CIA raided Tulsi Gabbard's office to seize files about the MKUltra program and John F. Kennedy's assassination. The spokesperson clarified that the CIA did not raid the DNI’s office.
Key Facts
Claims surfaced that the CIA raided Tulsi Gabbard's office for certain files.
The files reportedly involved the MKUltra program and JFK assassination.
The DNI spokesperson called these claims false on social media platform X.
The CIA did not raid the office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The information was shared in response to a Fox News report.
The story is still developing and may receive updates.
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A tourist named Igor Lytvynchuk has been charged for throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal near Maui, Hawaii. The act violated federal laws designed to protect endangered animals and marine mammals.
Key Facts
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk threw a large rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal while on vacation in Hawaii.
The incident happened on May 5 near the coast of Maui.
A video of the event led to a federal investigation.
Lytvynchuk faces charges under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson emphasized the importance of protecting Hawaii’s endangered wildlife.
Authorities have promised swift legal action for those who harm protected animals.
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of Hawaii’s endangered species and an important part of its natural heritage.
The story is still developing and more updates are expected.
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Republicans have gained an advantage in the fight to redraw U.S. House voting districts in several states. Court decisions have weakened some protections for minority voters and invalidated Democratic-led maps, allowing Republicans to propose new district lines that could help them win more seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
A Supreme Court ruling struck down a Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana, calling it illegal racial gerrymandering.
This ruling gives Republicans in Southern states a chance to redraw districts with large minority populations that typically vote Democratic.
The Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a Democratic-backed congressional map, citing violations of the state constitution.
Mid-decade redistricting efforts increased after President Donald Trump encouraged Texas Republicans to redraw districts for political gain.
Republicans could gain up to 15 new House seats in states like Texas, Alabama, Florida, and others based on proposed maps.
Democrats could gain up to six seats in states like California and Utah from their own redistricting efforts.
Republicans in Louisiana and South Carolina have proposed new maps aiming to improve their chances in upcoming elections.
Some redistricting plans face legal challenges and disagreements over election timing and authority.
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told the House Oversight Committee he no longer stands by his earlier statement that Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed people. Lutnick said he was only guessing during a podcast and described his contacts with Epstein as unimportant.
Key Facts
Howard Lutnick is the U.S. Commerce Secretary and a former head of Cantor Fitzgerald.
He previously claimed Epstein blackmailed others but now says he was only speculating.
Lutnick had some personal interactions with Epstein, including a 2005 visit to Epstein’s home that made him uncomfortable.
In 2011, Lutnick had a brief meeting with Epstein about scaffolding at Epstein’s house.
Lutnick and Epstein also had lunch on Epstein’s private island in 2012, which Lutnick described as boring.
Lutnick said he did not know Epstein was an investor in a business they both invested in during 2013.
Lutnick is the highest-ranking current administration official named in Epstein’s case files aside from President Donald Trump.
President Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and said he ended their relationship years ago.
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Angela Rayner, former Deputy Prime Minister, has been cleared by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of any wrongdoing in her tax affairs related to an £800,000 flat in Hove. She resigned from her government role in 2025 after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on the property but has said quitting was the right decision and welcomed the cleared findings.
Key Facts
Angela Rayner resigned as Deputy Prime Minister in September 2025 over underpaying stamp duty on her flat.
The flat was worth £800,000 and located in Hove, East Sussex.
Rayner initially believed it was her only property, but complex trust arrangements made it her second home for tax purposes.
She owed an additional £40,000 in stamp duty due to this classification.
Rayner contacted HMRC to arrange payment and referred herself for investigation.
HMRC concluded Rayner did not act recklessly or try to avoid paying taxes.
The prime minister’s ethics adviser said Rayner acted with integrity but breached the ministerial code.
Rayner indicated she may consider running for Labour Party leadership but does not want to start a contest.
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A disabled man named Alan Jones, who worked for Pilkington UK Ltd., was wrongly fired after the company hired a firm to spy on him while he was on sick leave. After a legal tribunal found the firing was unfair, the company agreed to pay him £329,000 for damages and lost earnings.
Key Facts
Alan Jones worked for Pilkington UK Ltd., a glass-making company, since 1983.
Jones developed a serious condition caused by cancer treatment, which made it hard for him to do his manual job.
While on sick leave, the company suspected he was working and paid a surveillance firm to watch him and his family.
The company fired him in 2019 based on video footage showing him doing light tasks on a farm, without checking medical evidence.
A tribunal ruled that Pilkington UK Ltd. had wrongly dismissed him due to his disability.
Pilkington UK Ltd. later issued an apology and promised to prevent future mistakes.
Jones received £329,000 in compensation for lost income and damages.
Jones felt betrayed after years of loyalty to the company and said losing his job felt like a death in the family.
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The article shares the stories of two women, Geeta and Rhi, who suffer from bowel incontinence after severe injuries during childbirth. Both women faced physical and emotional challenges and struggled to get proper medical support after their births.
Key Facts
Geeta suffered a third-degree tear during a forceps delivery 17 years ago and now lives with bowel incontinence.
She was sent home without follow-up care or support after her injury.
Bowel or anal incontinence, the inability to control bowel movements, affects 20% of women and often results from birth injuries.
Rhi experienced bowel incontinence and PTSD after the difficult birth of her son, initially told her symptoms were just mental health issues.
Rhi was only correctly diagnosed with an anal sphincter tear after her second child was born.
Both women highlight the lack of awareness and open discussion about severe birth injuries.
New research in Wales aims to raise awareness of birth injuries, especially in marginalized communities, and improve access to help.
Treatments like sacral nerve stimulation have been used to help manage symptoms after such injuries.
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Sarah Lilly became a carer for her sister Vicky, who has cerebral palsy, from a very young age. Over the years, the family faced many challenges with care, support, and health issues, but Vicky has achieved milestones like winning dance medals and living as independently as possible.
Key Facts
Vicky Lilly was born with quadriplegic and athetoid cerebral palsy, affecting all four limbs.
Sarah, her older sister by four years, helped care for Vicky from age six and worked at the same day center Vicky attends.
The family had to deal with inconsistent caregiving, limited funding, and difficult transitions from child to adult care services.
Vicky uses communication aids and body language to express herself due to speech difficulties.
As Vicky aged, she experienced increased physical stiffness, fatigue, and other health problems.
Vicky moved to an assisted living facility but became isolated during COVID-19 lockdowns and was sexually assaulted there.
The family reported this assault to the police and have shared her story with consent.
Despite challenges, Vicky is described as an independent woman capable of making her own decisions with support.
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Starting July 8, children aged eight and nine who are at least 120cm tall can use e-gates at UK airports when returning from abroad, as announced by the Home Office. This change will allow up to 1.5 million more children to use the faster digital passport scanning system, which helps reduce waiting times at the border.
Key Facts
The minimum age for using e-gates in UK airports will be lowered from 10 to 8 years old.
Children must be at least 120cm tall to be recognized by biometric scanners.
Children using e-gates must be accompanied by an adult.
Up to 1.5 million additional children may benefit from this change.
More than 290 e-gates exist in the UK and at some ports in Europe with UK border checks.
E-gates speed up border checks by scanning digital passports.
The system is available to citizens of the UK and certain countries including the US, EU states, Canada, Australia, and others.
E-gates are found at 13 UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
The e-gate system is part of the wider Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which charges £20 for entry permission for travelers from visa-free countries.
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Angela Rayner was cleared by HMRC of any deliberate tax wrongdoing, making it possible for her to run for Labour leadership. With Labour’s election losses, a leadership contest may happen soon as Wes Streeting prepares to challenge Keir Starmer.
Key Facts
HMRC found no evidence of deliberate carelessness or tax avoidance by Angela Rayner.
Rayner paid an extra £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty but faced no penalty.
The HMRC investigation contributed to Rayner’s resignation last September.
Rayner may run for Labour leader if a contest is triggered.
Wes Streeting plans to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer.
Labour is experiencing internal conflict after poor election results.
Rayner wants to focus on helping struggling people rather than personal ambition.
Rayner might support a soft-left candidate if they have a better chance of winning.
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A BBC investigation found that about 75% of pothole damage claims made by drivers in the UK are rejected. Potholes form when water damages road surfaces, and fixing them would cost billions. Many motorists and residents are frustrated with the poor condition of local roads and the difficulty in getting compensation for damage caused by potholes.
Key Facts
Potholes form when water seeps into road cracks, freezes, and expands, breaking the surface.
There are over one million potholes on UK roads, with about six per mile on council-managed roads in England and Wales.
Fixing all potholes on local roads in England and Wales is estimated to cost £18.6 billion.
BBC data shows over 146,000 vehicle damage claims from potholes in five years, but councils paid out only £13.5 million.
Only about 24% of pothole damage claims made to councils are successful.
Residents in places like Netherfield report roads are very damaged, affecting their vehicles and daily life.
Local councils have tried some repairs and increased pothole-filling efforts, but many people remain unhappy.
Pothole repairs and road conditions have become important local election issues in some areas.
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Raymond Johnson, an Oklahoma man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her 7-month-old daughter by setting their home on fire in 2007, is scheduled for execution. He was found guilty of first-degree murder after attacking his ex-girlfriend with a hammer and then lighting the house on fire.
Key Facts
Raymond Johnson is 52 years old and was convicted for the June 2007 killing.
Victims were Brooke Whitaker, 24, and her 7-month-old daughter, Kya.
Johnson hit Whitaker with a metal claw hammer and fractured her skull.
He doused the house and Whitaker with gasoline, lit it on fire, and left.
Whitaker died from head injuries and smoke inhalation; Kya died from burns.
Johnson has a 1996 manslaughter conviction and served nine years for that crime.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency for Johnson unanimously.
If executed, Johnson would be the second person put to death in Oklahoma this year.
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A recent CNN poll shows President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating has reached 65 percent, the highest of his two terms in office. His approval rating on the economy is at 30 percent, the lowest ever recorded for him by this pollster.
Key Facts
President Trump’s overall disapproval rating is 65 percent, up from 64 percent in March and 63 percent in February.
His overall approval rating in the latest poll is 35 percent.
The poll surveyed 1,499 people from April 30 to May 4 with a margin of error of 2.8 percent.
When Trump began his second term in 2024, his approval was 47 percent, with a 52 percent disapproval.
Trump’s net approval rating (approval minus disapproval) is -22 percent, matching the lowest levels seen by President Joe Biden.
Approval on the economy is at 30 percent, with 70 percent disapproving—Trump has never had this low an economic rating with this pollster during both terms.
The White House says Trump is focused on economic policies like tax cuts, deregulation, and energy production to improve the economy.
Inflation recently rose to the highest level seen during Trump’s terms, according to government data.
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Rep. LaMonica McIver from New Jersey is proposing a new law to protect Congress members’ rights to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This comes one year after an incident at an immigration detention center led to criminal charges against her.
Key Facts
Rep. LaMonica McIver is a Democratic representative from New Jersey.
She plans to introduce legislation ensuring Congress can always oversee ICE and related agencies.
The bill aims to make this oversight right permanent by putting it into law.
One year ago, McIver was involved in an incident at an immigration detention facility in New Jersey.
That incident resulted in criminal charges against her.
The proposed law responds to concerns about the powers of Congress to monitor ICE activities.
Oversight means checking how government agencies operate and hold them accountable.
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A study by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found that giving young people one-time cash payments of about $3,700 can help stop them from becoming homeless. The payments provide immediate financial help that can prevent housing loss.
Key Facts
The study was done by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
It focused on young people at risk of homelessness.
One-time cash payments averaged $3,700.
These payments helped reduce the chances of falling into homelessness.
Larry Cohen, from Point Source Youth, discussed the study on CBS News.
The research suggests direct cash help is effective in preventing homelessness.
The cash payments give young people the money they need right away to stay housed.
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President Donald Trump said stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon is the most important issue. Meanwhile, US inflation rose to its highest level in three years, largely driven by energy prices linked to the conflict with Iran. The Senate rejected a proposal to end US involvement in the conflict, and Kevin Warsh was confirmed as the new Federal Reserve chair.
Key Facts
President Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is “the only thing that matters.”
US inflation rose 3.8% in April, the fastest increase since 2023, with energy costs a major factor.
Gasoline prices average over $4.50 per gallon, the highest in four years.
Food, electricity, and airline prices have also increased significantly.
President Trump said he is not focused on the economic hardship caused by the conflict with Iran.
The US Senate voted 49-50 against a resolution to end American involvement in the Iran conflict.
Kevin Warsh was confirmed by the Senate as chair of the Federal Reserve in a largely party-line vote.
Environmental and immigration groups welcomed the expected closure of Alligator Alcatraz, a remote immigration detention center in Florida.
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William Paul, son of Senator Rand Paul, apologized for making antisemitic and anti-gay remarks while drunk at a Washington DC bar. He said he does not really hold those views and is seeking help for his drinking problem.
Key Facts
William Paul made hateful comments about Jews and gays to Congressman Mike Lawler at a bar.
He blamed Jewish people for political issues related to Israel and the US war on Iran.
Paul was drunk during the incident and apologized on social media the next day.
He has a history of charges related to drunken behavior.
The incident happened amid a heated primary election involving Rand Paul’s ally Thomas Massie.
Massie is running against Ed Gallrein, who is backed by President Donald Trump and Paul Singer, a Jewish billionaire who supports gay rights.
William Paul told Lawler to watch more of Fox News host Tucker Carlson before leaving.
Paul is attending events with a Christian organization and has previously worked as a congressional aide.
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified that he had only a few brief and unimportant meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, including a short visit to Epstein's private island in 2012. Lutnick said he and his family had lunch there but did not witness any illegal behavior and did not have a personal or professional relationship with Epstein after their first meeting.
Key Facts
Howard Lutnick is the U.S. Commerce Secretary and testified before the House Oversight Committee.
He met Jeffrey Epstein first in 2005 when Epstein invited him and his wife for coffee next door.
Lutnick described all interactions with Epstein as "meaningless and inconsequential."
He visited Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, in 2012 with his family and friends for a brief lunch.
Lutnick said Epstein’s staff arranged the island visit without his prior knowledge.
He reported seeing no young women or girls on Epstein's island during the visit.
Lutnick denied being connected to any illegal activities linked to Epstein.
He dismissed claims that he resembled a mask found at Epstein's estate as absurd.
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