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A new study in Current Biology finds that Buddhist and Taoist temples across eastern China have become vital refuges for ancient and endangered trees. Using government records and surveys, researchers logged nearly 47,000 trees over 100 years old at 6,545 religious sites, including almost 6,000 from threatened species. Some trees date back over a millennium, with a few around 1,500 years old. Temples safeguarded these species through cultural reverence for plants, protected grounds, and long-term cultivation, preserving at least eight species now absent from the wild—like the last known mature Putuo hornbeam. Experts note that while sacred sites cannot replace large-scale conservation amid climate change and deforestation, they highlight how religious traditions can sustain biodiversity. Ancient trees provide outsized ecological benefits, climate records, and carbon storage, and their progeny may be especially resilient to future climatic shifts.

China has been increasingly successful in attracting top scientific talent, and new Trump administration policies are likely to accelerate the shift. As the U.S. slashes research funding, targets premier universities, restricts international students—especially Chinese—and pursues investigations that many see as racial profiling, more scientists are considering leaving. Chinese institutions, buoyed by massive R&D investment and recruitment incentives, are actively courting them, with Westlake University a standout example of elite overseas hires and generous packages. Data show a growing return of Chinese-origin scientists from the U.S. since 2017, with some non-Chinese scholars also moving to China. While midcareer stars remain cautious due to family and career ties, early-career, near-retirement, and those scrutinized in the U.S. are more likely to relocate. Constraints remain, including visa frictions and travel restrictions, but China’s strategy to become a science superpower—especially in AI, semiconductors, and biotech—is gaining momentum as U.S. policies push talent away.

Israel set a record $14.8 billion in arms export contracts in 2024, up from $13 billion in 2023, even as it fought across multiple fronts. Over half of sales (54%) went to Europe, where demand has surged amid the Ukraine war and doubts about U.S. reliability. Missiles, rockets, and air-defense systems made up 48% of exports. At the same time, Israel received at least $17.9 billion in U.S. military aid after Oct. 7, 2023, underscoring its continued dependence on American support despite ambitions to reduce it. Some European backlash emerged, with Spain canceling a $325 million missile deal. Israel’s industry maintained steady production lines after 2014 to enable rapid wartime scaling, though analysts say interceptor stockpiles were strained in late 2023. Major deals include Germany’s $4.3 billion purchase of Arrow air-defense batteries.

President Trump signed a new travel ban barring entry to the U.S. for citizens of 12 countries—Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—effective Monday, and imposing narrower restrictions on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The move revives and expands his earlier first-term policy, framed as a national security measure following a recent attack in Colorado, and is designed to better withstand legal challenges through a longer review process and defined criteria. Exemptions include existing visa holders, green card holders, certain family-based visas, dual U.S. citizens, select athletes (e.g., for the World Cup and Olympics), and Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas. Critics call the policy discriminatory and harmful to communities and the economy, while supporters cite Supreme Court precedent and security vetting concerns.

House Republicans, backed by President Trump, are attacking nonpartisan budget analysts and outside economists who project their tax package would significantly increase federal deficits. A new Congressional Budget Office estimate says the bill would add about $2.4 trillion to the debt over 10 years, aligning with forecasts from Yale’s Budget Lab, Penn Wharton, the Tax Foundation, and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which also find minimal growth effects. The bill extends many 2017 tax cuts and adds new breaks (e.g., on tips and overtime), partly offset by about $1.7 trillion in welfare and antipoverty program cuts, but still leaves large shortfalls. GOP leaders dispute the estimates, criticize the CBO’s credibility, and point to prospective tariff revenues, though those are uncertain amid legal and trade negotiations. The push to discredit scorekeepers marks an escalation in partisan battles over fiscal policy as markets show concern about mounting U.S. debt.

The White House asked Congress to rescind over $9 billion in previously approved funds, including $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, aligning with recommendations from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Republicans aim to codify Trump’s executive-ordered cuts, but with narrow majorities, passage is uncertain. Key GOP senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski signaled opposition to specific provisions, notably a $400 million cut to PEPFAR and defunding public broadcasting. NPR and PBS warned the move would devastate local stations, especially in rural areas. The effort is part of a broader Republican push to reduce public media funding through executive orders and legislation.

The Trump administration, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., rescinded a Biden-era policy that required hospitals to provide emergency abortions when a pregnant patient’s health is at risk, even in states with abortion bans. While the administration said hospitals must still follow federal emergency care law (EMTALA), it offered no clear guidance on when abortions are permitted, prompting experts to warn that ambiguity will deter physicians from intervening and increase risks to pregnant patients. Anti-abortion advocates praised the move. The shift follows legal battles over whether state abortion bans override EMTALA; a related Idaho case was dismissed by the Supreme Court, leaving in place a lower-court ruling allowing health-risk exceptions there. Critics say the revocation creates confusion and could lead to hospitals in restrictive states turning away patients in peril.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that House-passed Republican legislation centered on $3.8 trillion in tax cuts and federal program reductions would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. While the bill includes about $1 trillion in savings from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act changes—projected to leave nearly 11 million more people uninsured—and other cuts like food stamps, it falls far short of offsetting costs. Some Senate Republicans object over deficit concerns, and others seek to alter the bill by deepening tax cuts or softening spending reductions. Independent analyses suggest minimal growth effects from the tax cuts and note additional costs from higher interest payments and likely extensions of temporary tax provisions, potentially adding up to $1.7 trillion more. Investor worries are rising, with Moody’s recently downgrading U.S. credit. Republicans have attacked the budget score, while critics within the party, including Senator Rand Paul and Elon Musk, warn of unsustainable debt.

After weeks of stalled talks, the U.S. proposed a framework allowing Iran to temporarily continue low-level uranium enrichment while a regional consortium, potentially including the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E., builds and manages enrichment facilities to fuel Iranian civilian nuclear power. Once benefits flow from those facilities, Iran would halt enrichment on its soil. The plan, crafted under Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, is vague and far from finalized; Iran insists on its right to enrich and seeks sanctions relief. The talks aim to avert escalation and constrain Iran’s nuclear program amid concerns over its 60% enrichment, missiles, and regional proxies. A successful deal could ease sanctions and reshape regional security, while failure risks confrontation. The context: Trump exited the 2015 Obama-era deal in 2018; Iran ramped enrichment about a year later. The current approach resembles a preliminary accord to bridge gaps and delay potential Israeli military action.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a Navy review that could strip the names of civil rights and social justice leaders from several vessels, including one honoring Harvey Milk, an openly gay elected official and Navy veteran. The move, timed early in Pride Month and aligned with the Trump administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives, could also affect ships named for Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman, Lucy Stone, Medgar Evers, Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta. Most are John Lewis-class replenishment ships. The Pentagon said any renaming decisions will follow internal reviews. Critics, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, called the effort a politicized erasure that does not enhance military readiness.

China’s Zhongman Petroleum drilled 193 wells using air-foam techniques to tap groundwater in Egypt’s West Minya, transforming 500 hectares of desert into irrigated farmland that supplies Canal Sugar, the world’s largest beet sugar factory with 900,000 tonnes annual capacity. The project showcases China’s export of agritech to the Middle East, where countries seek solutions for water, agriculture, and diversification. Aligning with China’s push for overseas opportunities, regional partners like Saudi Arabia signed 57 deals worth 26.9 billion yuan with Chinese firms for water recycling, capacity building, seaweed cultivation, and biofuel/biofertiliser production.

China is intensifying enforcement of export controls and cracking down on illegal mining of critical minerals amid renewed tensions with the US. Regions including Guangxi, Guizhou, and Hunan are inspecting exporters, mapping strategic mineral firms, and strengthening compliance to implement Beijing’s “whole-chain” control directive. Measures include tougher supervision of mining and exploration, targeting unlicensed extraction and activities outside approved zones, and cross-regional coordination between cities like Wuzhou and Yunfu. The moves reinforce China’s dominance in refined rare earths—supplying 92% globally—after new US curbs on jet engine and chip design technology, despite US criticism that Beijing hasn’t lifted restrictions on seven key minerals as previously signaled.

China’s Tiandu-1 satellite has entered a fuel-efficient 3:1 Earth–moon resonant orbit, completing three Earth orbits per lunar circuit, a step seen as important for future lunar navigation and infrastructure. Its developer, Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, claimed it was the first to achieve a round-trip 3:1 Earth–moon resonance, citing benefits for orbit maintenance and autonomous navigation. However, US and Canadian experts dispute the “first” claim, noting NASA’s IBEX probe has operated in a near-identical 3:1 resonant orbit since 2011, making Tiandu-1’s primacy debatable.

The EU pressed China to ease new export controls on rare earth elements and magnets, warning of an “alarming” impact on European industry, especially carmakers. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic raised the issue with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Paris, noting that rare earths are essential for hi-tech manufacturing. China, which supplies about 90% of global rare earths, added seven elements and certain magnets to its export control list in April after U.S. tariff moves, requiring export licenses. Although aimed at the U.S., the controls are disrupting global supply chains, with European firms reporting shortages and production slowdowns.

Former US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns urged caution over Beijing’s role in Ukraine-Russia talks, saying China is not neutral and has backed Russia diplomatically, economically, and militarily. Speaking at Brookings, he warned that China’s interest in aiding Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction is a strategic move to gain influence while evading responsibility for supporting Moscow. His remarks came as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in Istanbul, agreeing to a major prisoner swap but making little progress on a broader peace deal, with Ukraine rejecting Russia’s demands on territorial recognition and NATO renunciation.

American economist Stephen Roach, who last year declared Hong Kong “over,” now says the city has unexpectedly benefited from the US-China trade war, even as he maintains that aspects of its image have worsened. He acknowledges he was wrong to predict Hong Kong would be “caught” in the crossfire, citing strong market performance: the Hang Seng Index is up about 50% since his claim, and the city has led global fundraising amid major IPOs, including by CATL. Roach attributes the gains partly to a global “sell America” sentiment, with Hong Kong emerging as a beneficiary despite escalating US-China tensions.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to skip the June G7 summit in Canada, likely due to Ottawa not extending an invitation, signaling that a reset in Canada–India relations remains stalled despite a new Canadian government under Mark Carney. Hopes for improved ties—boosted by Indian-origin ministers like Foreign Minister Anita Anand—have been tempered by unresolved tensions stemming from Justin Trudeau’s 2023 allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which led to diplomatic expulsions and stalled trade talks.

A cluster of moderate earthquakes off Hokkaido has revived fears of a potential megaquake along the Chishima (Kuril) Trench, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. Quakes ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 6.3 occurred in quick succession, though Japan’s Meteorological Agency says they appear to be isolated and not strong enough to trigger further seismic activity. While emphasizing that earthquakes can’t be predicted, authorities are urging residents to prepare for worst-case scenarios given the trench’s history of generating major quakes.

A viral commencement speech by Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, the first Chinese woman selected as Harvard’s student speaker, has sparked debate in China over access to elite education. While her call for global unity amid US visa crackdowns won praise, critics questioned whether her path—UK high school, Duke undergrad, Harvard master’s—reflects privilege rather than merit. Online commenters highlighted unequal access to quality education and resources, and scrutinized her volunteer experience at a foundation where her father reportedly held a director role, suggesting it may have aided her application. The controversy underscores broader concerns in China about fairness and social mobility in elite academic admissions.

A 16-year-old Hong Kong student in Perth was deported from Australia less than eight hours after a dispute led to her eviction by her homestay family, prompting her mother to consider legal action. The mother, Jessie Cheung, said the homestay hostess suddenly turned hostile on March 3, accused the girl of disruptive behavior, and ordered her to leave. With no emergency accommodation provided, authorities swiftly deported the student. Australian officials stated international student welfare is a priority, but the case has raised concerns about protections and contingency support for underage overseas students facing sudden housing loss.

Five Chiapas state police officers were killed in an ambush by an armed group in Frontera Comalapa, near the Guatemala border. Their patrol vehicle was set on fire. Authorities deployed over 1,000 officers and later arrested a suspect found nearby with an AK-47 and military uniforms. The attack comes amid a violent turf war between the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Chiapas, a key smuggling corridor.

Mexican authorities arrested three more suspects and seized weapons and drugs during raids in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, following the kidnapping and murder of five members of the local band Fugitivo. The musicians were abducted on May 25 en route to a supposed private event and later found dead after ransom demands to their families. Nine alleged Gulf Cartel members had already been detained last week; officials did not confirm cartel links for the three new suspects. Reynosa, a violence-plagued border city, remains contested by criminal groups. The case comes amid broader tensions over “narcocorridos,” with U.S. visa revocations for some Mexican artists and ongoing debates over music that glorifies cartel figures.

Bill Gates says most of the $200 billion he plans to donate over the next 20 years through the Gates Foundation will go to Africa, focusing on health and education in partnership with governments that prioritize citizen well-being. Speaking at the African Union in Ethiopia, he framed the effort as unlocking human potential to drive prosperity across the continent. Gates, inspired by Andrew Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth,” aims to give away virtually all his fortune—projecting a 99% drop in his net worth by 2045—amid a backdrop of reduced U.S. foreign aid.

Dutch prosecutors are seeking a record $253 million in illicit assets from fugitive drug lord Jos “Bolle/Chubby Jos” Leijdekkers, believed to be hiding in Sierra Leone. Authorities say he profited €114 million from 14 cocaine shipments in under a year and spent €47 million on nearly a metric ton of gold, while also acquiring luxury goods and properties in Turkey and Dubai. Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia in 2024 to 24 years for ordering a murder and organizing cocaine trafficking, and is on Europol’s most-wanted list with a reward exceeding $225,000. Dutch officials are “absolutely certain” of his presence in Sierra Leone, amid controversy over images suggesting ties to the country’s political elite. He is also suspected in the disappearance and likely murder of Naima Jillal. Prosecutors say this asset seizure effort is only a first step.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen lost to 19-year-old world champion Gukesh Dommaraju in round six of Norway Chess, reacting by slamming his fist on the table before offering a handshake. The upset, streamed on Chess.com, sparked online debate about sportsmanship, though Carlsen remained tournament leader. Carlsen, a five-time world champion and top-ranked since 2010, holds the all-time peak rating of 2882. Dommaraju, ranked No. 5, became the youngest world champion in 2024, surpassing Garry Kasparov’s age record. The article also briefly explains chess rating systems (Elo and Glicko).

More than 200 inmates escaped from Karachi’s Malir prison after officials let prisoners into the courtyard due to earthquake tremors. A group attacked guards, seized weapons, and fled; one inmate was killed and three security personnel were wounded in a shootout. Authorities say 216 escaped, 78 have been recaptured, and none were militants. Police are conducting raids, residents were alerted via mosque loudspeakers, and the provincial chief minister urged voluntary returns, warning of possible terror charges for the jailbreak. Karachi experienced several small quakes prior to the incident. Officials called it one of Pakistan’s largest recent prison breaks.

Pakistani TikTok star Sana Yousaf, 17, was shot dead at her Islamabad home after repeatedly rejecting advances from a 22-year-old man who allegedly loitered outside her residence before the attack, police said. Yousaf had over 800,000 TikTok followers and posted lifestyle and beauty content; her final video showed her celebrating her birthday hours before her death. Police have arrested a suspect and called the killing “gruesome and cold-blooded.” The case highlights ongoing violence against women in Pakistan, where attacks following rejected proposals have drawn national outrage in recent years.

The Trump administration plans to transfer Greenland from U.S. European Command to U.S. Northern Command, a move seen as treating Greenland more like part of North America and less like a European territory. This change is symbolic and reflects the U.S. view of Greenland as critical to national security, particularly due to the Pituffik Space Base. Top U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have suggested Greenland come under the U.S. security umbrella, with President Trump previously expressing interest in acquiring Greenland for its rare earth minerals and strategic importance. However, most Greenlanders do not want to join the U.S.

Erin Patterson, 50, testified in an Australian court as her trial nears conclusion over the 2023 deaths of three relatives of her estranged husband and the attempted murder of a fourth, allegedly from death cap mushrooms served in a beef Wellington at her home in Victoria. She pleaded not guilty, with her lawyer arguing the poisoning was accidental. Patterson described growing estrangement from her husband’s family and personal struggles. The surviving victim, Ian Wilkinson, detailed that Patterson plated individual serves containing steak and mushrooms. Patterson initially left the hospital against medical advice and later said her children ate the meal but not the mushrooms or pastry. She faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder and up to 25 years for attempted murder.

Counterpoint Research cut its 2025 global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 1.9% from 4.2% amid renewed U.S. tariff uncertainty and weaker demand across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Apple’s shipments are now expected to grow 2.5% (down from 4%), while Samsung’s are projected to be flat (vs. prior 1.7% growth). Despite smartphones being exempted from recent U.S. “reciprocal tariffs,” policy uncertainty and softer demand are weighing on outlooks. Apple faces added scrutiny due to heavy China-based production and political pushback on its India shift. Huawei is a notable outlier, with shipments forecast to rise 11% in 2025 as component bottlenecks ease and domestic demand strengthens.

Australia’s economy grew 1.3% year-on-year in Q1 2025, unchanged from Q4 and below the 1.5% forecast, with quarterly growth at 0.2% vs 0.4% expected. Weakness stemmed from shrinking public spending, softer consumer demand, and weather-hit exports, with public demand and net trade each subtracting 0.1 pp from GDP while private demand added 0.3 pp. With inflation easing to 2.4%—within the RBA’s 2–3% target—the central bank cut rates in May to 3.85% and left the door open to further easing amid global trade risks. Economists see potential additional cuts if weakness persists, though lingering wage pressures could limit how far rates fall. Markets reacted modestly, with the ASX 200 up 0.83% and the AUD steady around 0.6460.

U.S. stocks rose Tuesday on chip gains and stronger-than-expected job openings, with Nvidia up 2.8% to reclaim the top market-cap spot at $3.45 trillion. Despite the rally, the OECD cut its 2025 U.S. growth forecast to 1.6% and lowered global growth, citing rising trade barriers and uncertainty amid new U.S. tariffs. Euro zone inflation dipped to 1.9%, below the ECB’s 2% target, with core inflation easing. Market strategists warn recent gains may be short-lived until there’s clarity on earnings and GDP. Elon Musk criticized President Trump’s proposed bill as fiscally reckless. Separately, Tesla plans to launch robotaxi services in Austin, entering a crowded field with Waymo, Zoox, and others. Bank of America flagged potential financials additions to the S&P 500.

The UK government has sold its remaining stake in NatWest (formerly RBS), ending a 17-year saga that began with RBS’s disastrous 2007 ABN AMRO acquisition and a record £12 billion rights issue in 2008, followed by a £45.5 billion bailout. Taxpayers have recouped about £35 billion through fees, dividends, and share sales, crystallizing a roughly £10.5 billion loss. The piece argues the stake was a rescue, not an investment, and that losses were worsened by EU state-aid requirements forcing valuable disposals like WorldPay, Direct Line, and Citizens, with WorldPay later sold for $43 billion after being offloaded for $3 billion. The real legacies, it says, are stricter post-crisis banking regulation, higher capital buffers, and enduring institutional memory to prevent a repeat of RBS’s over-leveraged collapse.

Nissan’s new CEO Ivan Espinosa says the company’s immediate priority is fixing its fundamentals through a major cost-cutting and restructuring plan. Facing falling sales, intense EV competition (especially from China), and added pressure from U.S. tariffs, Nissan will cut 11,000 jobs and close seven plants under its “Re:Nissan” plan. Espinosa blamed years of overexpansion targeting 8 million annual sales; actual sales peaked at 5.6 million in 2016 and are now ~3.3–3.4 million. He aims to resize the business, reduce fixed and variable costs, and execute a turnaround after a weak 2024. Nissan shares are down 24% year-to-date; a potential Honda tie-up collapsed earlier this year.

At the SuperReturn 2025 conference in Berlin, private equity leaders signaled a notable shift toward Europe, citing falling interest rates, Germany’s €500 billion fiscal package, and pro-competitiveness reforms as tailwinds. Executives from Ares, Blackstone, Bain, and Sixth Street highlighted attractive valuations, greater political stability in key countries, and sector opportunities in digital infrastructure, energy efficiency, and defense. Despite subdued M&A, IPOs, and fundraising for Europe-focused private credit, firms are adding European headcount and pursuing deals, though execution remains complex due to fragmented markets and higher barriers to entry. While some expect U.S. policy volatility to ease over time, skeptics caution that Europe’s structural challenges and smaller scale—especially in tech—limit a wholesale shift of capital from the U.S.

The European Central Bank is expected to cut its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2%, with markets seeing near certainty of the move. While inflation is back near the 2% target and growth remains weak, uncertainty from global trade tensions, EU rearmament, and German fiscal shifts clouds the outlook. Analysts anticipate further cuts this year but expect the ECB to avoid firm guidance, possibly signaling meeting-by-meeting decisions. Some forecast additional 25 bp cuts in September and December; July is seen as possible by others. For consumers, short-term savings rates are likely to fall in line with ECB moves, while long-term borrowing costs (e.g., fixed mortgages) may change less, as expectations are already priced in. The ECB’s new staff projections will be key for the path ahead.

Toyota Industries’ shares fell up to 13% after Toyota Group announced a ¥4.7 trillion ($33 billion) plan to take the company private, including a ¥26 billion tender offer at ¥16,300 per share—well below the prior ¥18,400 close. The deal, financed via a new holding company, investments from Toyota units and leadership, and loans from major Japanese banks, comes amid pressure to unwind cross-shareholdings. Analysts called the offer unattractive and noted a special committee’s unsuccessful attempts to raise the price. While investors reacted negatively, some see long-term benefits for Toyota Group if proceeds from unwinding cross-shareholdings are redeployed into growth. The move occurs against broader industry headwinds, including new U.S. auto tariffs.

CrowdStrike reported solid Q1 FY2026 results with revenue up 20% to $1.1 billion (in line), EPS of $0.73 (beat), ARR up 22% to $4.44 billion (beat), and RPO up 45% to $6.8 billion (beat), alongside a new $1 billion buyback. Guidance was mixed: full-year revenue unchanged and slightly below consensus at the midpoint, but stronger-than-expected profitability with higher adjusted EPS and operating income; Q2 revenue guide slightly light, but EPS and operating income ahead. Management highlighted accelerating adoption of the Falcon Flex subscription, driving larger, longer, and faster deployments, with $3.2 billion in total Flex deal value and 97% gross retention. Expectation for sequential acceleration in net new ARR remains, with margin expansion targets for FY2027 of at least 24% adjusted operating margin and over 30% FCF margin. Despite after-hours selling, the authors raised their price target to $500 (from $400) and maintained a hold-equivalent rating, viewing the pullback as a likely buying opportunity given secular cybersecurity demand and improving profitability.

Blake Lively has moved to withdraw two claims—intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress—from her lawsuit against director and co-star Justin Baldoni, filed in December 2024 over alleged sexual harassment and a smear campaign during/after their work on It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s team sought Lively’s medical and therapy records to counter her emotional distress allegations; the court will decide whether to dismiss those claims or compel disclosure. Baldoni’s lawyers say Lively refused to withdraw the claims “with prejudice,” leaving the door open to refile; Lively’s team calls Baldoni’s filing a “press stunt,” saying they’re streamlining the case and that emotional distress remains part of other claims, including sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has countersued Lively and Ryan Reynolds for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. A subpoena to Taylor Swift related to alleged script influence was dropped after her legal objection.

Dr Florian Willet, a 47-year-old pro-euthanasia activist arrested after a woman died using the Sarco “suicide pod” in Switzerland last year, has died by assisted suicide in Germany. Willet, founder of The Last Resort, was detained for 70 days during the investigation but was not charged; his group says the arrest left him psychologically “broken.” He reportedly suffered significant trauma, fell from a third-floor window before his death, and required psychiatric care. The Sarco device, created by Philip Nitschke, remains controversial for enabling assisted death without medical oversight. Assisted dying is strictly regulated in Switzerland and illegal in most of Europe, including the UK. BBC has sought comment from Swiss prosecutors.

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi says he was abducted and subjected to severe sexual torture while detained in Tanzania last month after traveling to support opposition politician Tundu Lissu. At a Nairobi press conference, Mwangi described being stripped, beaten, assaulted, and threatened with blackmail via recorded footage. Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, detained with him, similarly alleges rape. Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam police chief dismissed the claims as hearsay and urged formal reporting. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, called for an investigation amid concerns over rising repression ahead of Tanzania’s October elections. Mwangi, citing serious injuries and trauma, wants his medical records public and says their treatment reflects broader regional authoritarianism.

An overnight earthquake triggered panic at Karachi’s overcrowded Malir Jail, where inmates broke doors and windows; 216 escaped amid chaos as police fired warning shots. Authorities say about 80 have been recaptured, over 130 remain at large, one inmate was killed, and two officers injured. The prison, holding around 5,000 despite a 2,200 capacity, is under investigation by Sindh’s prisons minister, though officials blame the incident on the quake rather than a security lapse. Police are conducting door-to-door searches, and family visits have been suspended, prompting protests.

Elon Musk publicly condemned President Trump’s signature tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination,” escalating tensions within the GOP. The House-passed bill extends 2017 tax cuts, boosts defense and deportation funding, and raises the debt ceiling to $4 trillion, with estimates of a $600bn deficit increase next year and a total deficit of about $2.5 trillion. Musk, who recently left a short-lived cost-cutting role in the administration, warned of electoral consequences for supporters of the bill. Republican leaders defended the legislation and dismissed Musk’s criticism, while some Democrats seized on his remarks. The Senate, narrowly controlled by Republicans, is now debating the measure amid internal party divisions. Potential factors in Musk’s break include the bill’s phaseout of EV tax credits and an FAA decision not to use Starlink for air traffic control.

Mondelēz International, maker of Oreo, has sued Aldi in the US, alleging the retailer’s private-label products use packaging that closely mimics brands like Oreo, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter, Chips Ahoy!, and Ritz, potentially deceiving consumers and leveraging Mondelēz’s reputation. The lawsuit, filed in May, claims Aldi continued selling “unacceptable copies” despite some changes and seeks damages for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment. Aldi US did not comment; Aldi UK said it is a separate business. Aldi, known for low-cost lookalike products, has faced similar disputes, including a recent loss to cider maker Thatchers in the UK.

The US Navy plans to rename the USNS Harvey Milk and may retitle other ships named after civil rights figures, according to documents obtained by CBS News. The move, set to be announced publicly during Pride Month, aligns with Trump administration directives to curb diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and “re-establish the warrior culture.” Other ships reportedly under review include those named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Harriet Tubman. The directive follows Pentagon guidance halting heritage- and awareness-month events and recent executive orders limiting DEI and defining sex as male or female. The decision has drawn strong criticism from Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, who called for its reversal. Harvey Milk, a Navy veteran and the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, was assassinated in 1978.

Erin Patterson, on trial in Australia for allegedly murdering three guests with a Beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms, testified that she may have unintentionally added foraged, dehydrated mushrooms to the dish to improve a “bland” duxelles. She said she stored dried mushrooms—both store-bought and foraged—together in a pantry container and acknowledged previously dehydrating wild mushrooms, possibly including those gathered near oak trees, where death caps grow. Patterson described her own gastrointestinal symptoms after the meal, her hospital visit, and shock at being told death caps might be involved. She also admitted performing factory resets on her phone to hide photos of mushrooms and a dehydrator from detectives, saying she panicked. Patterson denies three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Her evidence continues.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a new U.S. proposal on Iran’s nuclear program, insisting Tehran will continue uranium enrichment and maintain “national independence.” The U.S. plan, sent Saturday, reportedly offers investment in Iran’s civilian nuclear sector and a consortium—potentially involving regional states and the IAEA—to oversee low-level enrichment in Iran. A senior Iranian official called the proposal unrealistic, while President Trump stated any deal would prohibit enrichment entirely. Khamenei said Iran has achieved a full nuclear fuel cycle and will not abandon enrichment. The comments follow a fifth round of U.S.-Iran talks in Rome, with plans to meet again but rising skepticism about a deal.

Kylie Jenner openly disclosed details of her breast augmentation on TikTok, naming implant size, type, placement, and surgeon—an unusually candid move that some praised as plastic-surgery transparency. While her frankness follows a wider trend of celebrities revealing procedures, critics argue it normalizes invasive surgery, downplays risks like infection and BIA-ALCL, and reinforces costly, unrealistic beauty standards. The debate is sharpened by rising U.S. breast augmentations alongside increasing implant removals, and by Jenner’s own past regret. Experts note that such disclosures can equate beauty with economic and social capital, turning bodies into problems to be “fixed” through consumer choices.

A CSIS study estimates Russia has suffered about 950,000 casualties in its invasion of Ukraine, including up to 250,000 dead, and is likely to reach 1 million this summer. Ukraine’s casualties are estimated at nearly 400,000, with 60,000–100,000 deaths. The report, broadly consistent with UK and US intelligence, argues Russia’s military has performed poorly, achieving only marginal territorial gains—about 1% since January 2024—despite “meat grinder” tactics and heavy equipment losses. Russia now occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine but advances slowly, including about 50 meters per day in Kharkiv. To sustain losses, the Kremlin has recruited convicts, North Korean troops, and men from poorer regions while sparing elite urban centers. The study warns the war’s attritional “blood cost” is a vulnerability for Putin and says Russia’s best hope is a reduction or cutoff of US aid to Ukraine.

CNN reports that President Trump said Vladimir Putin told him during a 75-minute call that Russia would respond to Ukraine’s weekend drone strikes on Russian airfields. Trump described the conversation as “good” but not leading to immediate peace and did not indicate pressing Putin for restraint or a ceasefire, prompting concern from a Ukrainian lawmaker that Trump tacitly greenlighted retaliation. The call followed Istanbul talks between Russia and Ukraine that yielded no movement. New Ukrainian video showed extensive damage to Russian aircraft, with Kyiv claiming 41 planes hit. While the White House hasn’t condemned Ukraine’s strikes, officials acknowledge the heightened risk. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak in Washington, signaling support for air defenses but resisting a return to “unlimited” military aid. Both Moscow and Washington indicated further contacts on Ukraine are planned.

In a CNN interview, George Clooney says fear and intimidation in today’s media and political climate feel more widespread than during the McCarthy era. Speaking from the Broadway set of his play “Good Night, and Good Luck,” about Edward R. Murrow’s confrontation with Sen. Joseph McCarthy, Clooney argues modern pressures—amplified by social media and polarization—create a more pervasive environment of fear. CNN will air a special presentation of the play on June 7 at 7 p.m. ET.

CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan reports from a defamation trial where MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is set to testify, facing claims from a former Dominion Voting Systems employee over Lindell’s election-fraud allegations. The segment shows Lindell preparing to take the stand and highlights the stakes of the case amid ongoing fallout from 2020 election misinformation.

Wildfire smoke from Canada has triggered air-quality alerts across New York, New Jersey, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Maine, with conditions ranging from moderate to unhealthy due to widespread fires that have forced at least 25,000 evacuations in three Canadian provinces. States advised limiting strenuous outdoor activity, especially for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions. Iowa’s alert extends through Thursday with intermittent thick smoke expected; New York and New Jersey issued daylong advisories; New Hampshire declared an air-quality action day; and Maine warned residents to reduce outdoor activity if they experience symptoms.

The UK Home Office is accused of a racist crackdown on Nigerians after denying a UK visit visa to Samuel Onyekachi Ibeawuchi—head of Nigerian firm BKay Security—and his family, who planned a three-week holiday with his UK-based sister and her husband, a migrants’ rights campaigner. Despite family sponsorship and documentation, officials rejected the application, questioning intentions to leave and the source of income from his self-employment, and warned future refusals were likely. The family and supporters argue the decision reflects a broader, tougher stance on Nigerian applicants under the current government. The Home Office says decisions are evidence-based and applicants can reapply addressing the refusal’s concerns; financial circumstances were among factors considered.

Hugo Aguilar, a Mixtec Indigenous lawyer with ties to Mexico’s ruling Morena party, won a controversial popular vote to become president of the supreme court after a sweeping reform elected roughly 2,600 judicial posts nationwide. Turnout was just 13%, amid opposition boycotts and concerns over partisan interference, including “cheat sheets” favoring government-aligned candidates. All nine new supreme court justices have links to Morena, raising fears the court will no longer check executive power. Aguilar, praised for his legal acumen but criticized for facilitating irregular consultations on mega-projects like the Maya Train, pledged to advance Indigenous and environmental justice. Analysts say the elections mark low democratic participation but successful political consolidation by Morena.

A Salvadoran jury convicted former defense minister José Guillermo García, ex-police colonel Francisco Antonio Morán, and former brigade commander Mario Reyes Mena for orchestrating the 1982 ambush and murder of four Dutch IKON TV journalists during El Salvador’s civil war. The men, now in their 80s and 90s, received 15-year sentences, reduced due to age and health. The verdict, delivered on the trial’s first day after an 11-hour session in Chalatenango, was hailed by human rights groups and the Dutch ambassador as a landmark against impunity. The case was reopened in 2018 after the amnesty law was struck down; evidence included testimony from a former U.S. military attaché. Reyes remains in the U.S. despite an approved extradition request; García and Morán are under police watch in a private hospital.

Vietnam has ended its longstanding two-child policy amid a record-low birthrate of 1.91 children per woman in 2024, below replacement level. Authorities fear an aging population could threaten labor supply and economic growth, especially in costly urban areas like Ho Chi Minh City (birthrate 1.32 in 2023). Provinces are offering incentives—cash rewards, certificates, and subsidies—to encourage births, but rates continue to fall. The move follows earlier policy shifts and comes alongside efforts to curb sex-selective practices, with proposed higher fines as the birth gender ratio remains skewed (112 boys per 100 girls). Similar demographic declines are seen across the region, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.

On the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te vowed the world would not forget the 1989 killings of pro-democracy protesters, despite China’s continued censorship and efforts to erase the event. China’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. remarks as interference. A new Article 19 report highlights increased transnational repression of Chinese critics, especially Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Hongkongers, and notes targeting of overseas commemorations. In Hong Kong, where public vigils were once held, authorities maintain bans and heavy policing around the date. Aging “Tiananmen Mothers” continue to seek accountability under surveillance. A former PLA soldier in Australia warned that the CCP drew lessons of tighter control from the crackdown.

A brawl broke out at Shanghai Disneyland on May 31 reportedly over line cutting at the Crazy Animal City attraction. Video shows two men fighting while a woman in bunny ears tries to intervene, shoving another woman holding a baby, who falls while clutching the child. Security halted the altercation; injuries were not reported. Fox News reached out to Shanghai Disneyland for comment.

Greenpeace activists stole a wax statue of French President Emmanuel Macron from Paris’s Grévin Museum and placed it outside the Russian Embassy to protest France’s ongoing business ties with Russia. The group said Macron shouldn’t be honored until France ends contracts with Russia and advances a robust EU-wide ecological transition. Activists entered as regular visitors, removed the statue without confrontation, and said they plan to return it later. Greenpeace argued France’s support for Ukraine is inconsistent with continued imports of Russian gas, fertilizers, and uranium.

President Trump publicly rejected allowing Iran any uranium enrichment, countering an Axios report claiming a secret U.S. proposal would permit limited enrichment in Iran for a set period. The reported plan, which Fox News could not verify, would contradict prior statements from Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Iran insists on its right to enrichment and signaled it will respond to the U.S. proposal, welcoming possible regional consortium participation but saying it cannot replace domestic enrichment. Negotiations continue amid concerns Iran is stalling as U.N. snapback sanctions near expiration, with Tehran asserting it will stay at the table while protecting national interests.

The UK unveiled a sweeping defense overhaul to boost “war-fighting readiness” amid Russia’s ongoing threat and uncertainty over future US troop levels in Europe under Donald Trump. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan emphasizes a “NATO first” approach, major investments in nuclear deterrence (about $20.3 billion for warheads), expanded munitions and AI, and accelerated submarine production under AUKUS to build up to 12 nuclear-powered attack subs. The strategy also calls for broader societal resilience and increased defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% by 2030, as the UK seeks a larger leadership role within NATO while Europe reduces reliance on the US military industrial base. Officials frame the modernization as a response to a generational Russian threat and evolving risks from China, Iran, and North Korea.

An 88-year-old Czech woman declared dead by paramedics and a coroner was found alive as undertakers placed her in a coffin, prompting her transport to a hospital. The case highlights the rare “Lazarus Effect,” where patients show signs of life after being declared clinically dead, often following CPR. The phenomenon’s cause remains unclear; the NIH has documented 74 U.S. cases from 1982–2022.

Dr Florian Willet, a Swiss euthanasia advocate and co-president of The Last Resort, died by assisted suicide on 5 May in Cologne, months after falling from his Zurich apartment and following 70 days of pre-trial detention. He had been arrested in connection with the September 2024 death of a 64-year-old American woman who reportedly became the first person to use the 3D-printed Sarco suicide pod, developed by Dr Philip Nitschke’s Exit International. A prosecutor alleged the pod failed and the woman suffered injuries consistent with strangulation; Exit International denied this, saying the death was peaceful and filmed, and that legal advice indicated Sarco’s use was permissible in Switzerland. Nitschke said Willet was deeply traumatized by detention and the accusations, contributing to his mental health crisis. The case has intensified debate over Switzerland’s assisted dying laws and the legality of Sarco.

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone, home to over 120 rescued western chimpanzees, faces an existential threat from illegal land encroachment within the Western Area Forest Reserve. Despite government promises and brief interventions, construction is advancing closer to chimp enclosures, prompting the sanctuary to close to visitors to prioritize conservation, rehabilitation, and research. Founder Bala Amarasekaran criticizes weak enforcement and complicit officials, while the government acknowledges failures amid urban growth pressures. The closure cuts vital tourism revenue, compounded by halted USAID funding, and risks diminishing public awareness of the national animal. Ongoing threats include bushmeat hunting and the illegal pet trade, highlighted by the recent rescue of an eight-month-old chimp. Tacugama warns that without firm action, both the sanctuary and Sierra Leone’s flagship wildlife asset are at risk.

A joint World Food Programme and UNICEF aid convoy of 15 trucks was attacked near Al Koma, North Darfur, as it attempted to reach famine-hit El Fasher, leaving five dead and several injured. Multiple trucks were burned and critical supplies damaged. The agencies said the route had been shared in advance and condemned the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law, calling for an urgent investigation and accountability. The incident underscores escalating risks to humanitarian operations amid Sudan’s two-year war, with millions facing acute hunger and recent attacks on aid facilities and medical sites.

World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst apologized to Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif for naming her in the federation’s new mandatory sex-testing policy, acknowledging her privacy should have been protected. The policy, effective 1 July, requires all athletes over 18 to undergo PCR genetic tests to determine sex at birth, with further specialist assessments and an appeals process if male chromosomal material is detected in women’s categories. Khelif, who won gold at the Paris Olympics and previously faced scrutiny after an IBA-administered test, will miss the Eindhoven Box Cup due to the new requirements but plans to defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

A sponsored New York Post piece details a budget-friendly makeover of a Brooklyn rental using SICOTAS furniture for about $2,500. Interior designer Kat Salazar and SICOTAS’s Charlene Yang focused on the living room and bedroom, emphasizing natural textures to complement exposed brick, wood beams, and sunlight. In the living room, they used SICOTAS’s rattan Savanna Collection and waveform-paneled Cas Collection, adding a console, bookshelves, and a rattan coffee table for a warm, functional look. In the bedroom, they improved storage and work-from-home functionality with Opus white nightstands, Savanna shoe benches, a six-drawer dresser, and a versatile desk, creating a cohesive, cozy, and practical space.