Queensland’s government has defended its $1.2 billion hypothecated mental health, alcohol and other drugs (MHAOD) levy after an auditor‑general review found significant governance and oversight failures. The Queensland Audit Office report, published in late May 2026, found there was no system to check how levy revenue raised between January 2023 and June 2025 was being spent, that the levy’s scope and outcomes were not defined, and that decisions on funding were reactive rather than strategically planned. The levy, collected via payroll tax (0.5% on payrolls above $10 million), has so far raised $1.2bn and is projected to raise around $500m more than originally forecast in its first five years. More than 90% of revenue has gone to Queensland Health, largely funding the Better Care Together plan; some payments also went to other agencies, including disaster recovery and domestic violence initiatives. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the levy will not be cut, confirmed steps to identify where money is spent and measure effectiveness, and noted $350m has been directed to services deemed within scope. Treasury has begun drafting clearer funding guidelines and the state mental health commissioner has backed the audit recommendations.

A 40-year-old wellness coach, Kristian Trend, died after taking part in a “cleansing” ceremony involving Kambo, a substance derived from the skin secretions of the giant leaf frog, British media reported on May 24, 2026. Trend collapsed at a flat in Clarendon Park, Leicester, on April 11 and was treated by paramedics before later dying in hospital. He was a survivor of Burkitt lymphoma and had become active in holistic wellness and alternative therapies. Leicestershire Police have opened an investigation; a 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison and later released on bail. Toxicology results and a coroner’s inquest are expected to determine the official cause of death. Kambo is unregulated in the UK but has been banned in countries including Australia, Brazil and Chile; health authorities warn it can cause seizures, liver failure, heart attacks and sudden death. Trend’s family has called for action to restrict the substance, and has launched a fundraiser in his memory.

A treatment tent provided by Médecins Sans Frontières at a hospital in Mongbwalu, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was set on fire late on May 23, 2026, in the region’s second attack on Ebola response facilities this week. As patients fled the blaze, 18 people with suspected Ebola infections left the centre and remain unaccounted for, health officials said. The incident followed a separate burning of a treatment centre in Rwampara after authorities refused to release a suspected victim’s body. Tensions over strict burial protocols have provoked protests; authorities have banned wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people. The World Health Organization has raised the outbreak risk in the DRC to “very high,” reporting 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths while national surveillance lists hundreds more suspected cases and deaths. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine, and has already claimed aid workers’ lives. Officials warned that attacks on centres and fleeing patients could accelerate community transmission, and U.S. authorities announced entry restrictions for some travellers from affected countries.

Gabriel Ganley, a rising Brazilian bodybuilder and social media fitness influencer known as “Bbzinho,” has died at 22. Ganley was found lifeless in his São Paulo home on the morning of May 23–24, 2026; police have opened an investigation and described the death as suspicious, though there were reportedly no obvious signs of violence at the scene. The cause of death has not been confirmed — unverified reports have suggested hypoglycaemia — and authorities and family have yet to release official details. Ganley rose to prominence after a viral video of a 500 kg leg press and amassed around two million Instagram followers. He had publicly discussed past anabolic steroid use and had missed competitions after pneumonia in 2025; he was reportedly preparing for Musclecontest Brasil in Curitiba. Sports supplement company Integralmédica issued a public tribute calling him an “eternal bbzinho,” and tributes from peers and fans poured in across the fitness community. The death has reignited debate about performance-enhancing drugs, young influencers’ health, and safety practices in competitive bodybuilding.

Kettle Cuisine has recalled 24-ounce cups of Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup after the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined the product may contain undeclared shrimp, a potentially life‑threatening allergen. The recall covers product with lot code 1762181, use‑by date May 27, 2026, and UPC 099482502065. The soup was distributed to Whole Foods stores and sold online via Whole Foods and Amazon across 17 U.S. states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, plus Washington, D.C. The action was prompted after an in‑store inspection found a single cup labeled as minestrone that contained a product with shrimp. No illnesses have been reported. Consumers who purchased the product are advised to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Kettle Cuisine at 617‑409‑1100 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET for more information.