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An unsealed FBI intelligence memo supports the Trump administration’s claim that some Venezuelan officials likely facilitated the Tren de Aragua gang’s movement to the U.S. to undermine public safety, possibly using gang members as proxies. The assessment—based on seven migrant sources, with medium and possibly declining confidence due to credibility concerns—acknowledges senior officials weren’t involved in daily gang activities and that an alternative explanation (independent gang migration) is equally plausible. Most other U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and NSA, reject the FBI’s view, citing lack of corroborating communications or financial evidence and potential incentives for detainees to fabricate claims. Despite a National Intelligence Council analysis concluding the Maduro regime likely does not direct or enable the gang’s U.S. operations, the administration used the FBI memo to defend invoking the Alien Enemies Act for rapid deportations—moves largely halted by courts. Internal pressure to rewrite assessments and the firing of the NIC’s acting head underscore the political and legal stakes.

After a court hearing in Buffalo, a Colombian asylum seeker, Victor, and his sister accidentally followed GPS directions onto the Peace Bridge into Canada, a common mistake since a 2016 redesign removed a U.S.-side turnaround. Under stricter immigration enforcement early in Trump’s second term, U.S. officials seized their phones, detained both, and ultimately kept Victor in ICE custody for three weeks despite his ongoing asylum case, work permit, and prior release. He was separated from his sister, hospitalized while chained to a bed, then held at the Batavia detention center, where he faced possible transfer out of state before a bond hearing. Similar accidental crossings have recently led to detentions and deportations for other immigrants, highlighting how routine navigation errors at border bridges now carry severe immigration consequences.

A federal judge, Indira Talwani, temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ending several Biden-era humanitarian parole and legal entry programs, ordering the government to resume processing renewals. The injunction covers Ukrainians, Afghans who assisted the U.S. military, participants in family reunification programs from parts of Central and South America, and military members and their relatives—primarily those already granted parole and seeking extensions or other benefits. Talwani found the categorical termination likely unlawful and warned it would cause nationwide chaos, mass loss of work authorization, and family separations, including for active-duty service members. She certified a nationwide class, extending temporary protections while the case proceeds. The ruling follows her earlier order shielding CHNV parolees (Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans), which the government is appealing to the Supreme Court. Immigration advocates hailed the decision as crucial relief, though further legal challenges are expected.

President Trump fully commuted the federal life sentence of Larry Hoover, the 74-year-old former leader of the Gangster Disciples, after years of lobbying by supporters including Ye (Kanye West) and clemency advocate Alice Johnson. The move does not free Hoover: his Illinois state murder sentence remains, with a parole date projected for 2062. Supporters argue Hoover has aged, has health issues, and has been rehabilitated during decades in supermax confinement; prosecutors and former lead prosecutor Ronald Safer maintain he remains a notorious gang leader responsible for extensive criminal activity. Illinois officials have not indicated whether they will consider commuting his state sentence.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, the influential Kenyan novelist, playwright, and memoirist, has died at 87. A leading voice against colonialism and postcolonial corruption, he championed writing in African languages and criticized the cultural dominance of English and other colonial tongues. His debut, Weep Not, Child (1964), was among the first major East African novels in English, but he later turned to Gikuyu, notably writing Devil on the Cross (1980) on prison toilet paper during a yearlong detention for his political theater. Often mentioned as a Nobel contender, Ngugi spent years in exile and later taught at UC Irvine. His works, including Decolonizing the Mind (1986), shaped debates on language, identity, and power in Africa. His life reflected Kenya’s turbulent history—from Mau Mau-era upheavals and family divisions to a violent attack upon his 2004 return—while inspiring generations of writers alongside contemporaries like Achebe and Soyinka.

The piece argues that global fertility declines are accelerating across diverse societies and can’t be explained by familiar partisan theories (welfare policy, religion, climate anxiety, or women’s liberation) because the drop is recent, widespread, and spans very different cultures and economies. In a conversation with sociologist Alice Evans, it highlights severe economic and social consequences of aging and shrinking populations—emptying towns, fiscal strain from pensions and health care, and slower innovation. The U.S. out-breeding Scandinavia undercuts the “more benefits = more babies” claim, while plunges in conservative regions (e.g., Egypt, Turkey, Tamil Nadu) challenge the idea it’s purely about liberal values. The core thesis is that something new in the last 10–15 years—linked to changing male-female relations and pair-bonding—has depressed marriage and childbearing across the globe, with the iPhone era implicitly blamed for reshaping social life, dating, and intimacy in ways that drive the sexes apart.

The author, typically measured, expresses anger at claims by Patrick Deneen and JD Vance that soldiers don’t fight for ideals but only for their comrades or “home.” Citing James McPherson’s research on Civil War letters and diaries, he argues many soldiers were explicitly motivated by patriotic and moral ideals. He frames these claims as symptomatic of Trumpism’s deeper moral project: denying America as a universalist idea rooted in equality, rights, and democracy, and recasting it as an “ancestors and homeland” nationalism. The piece contrasts aspirational American nationalism (Lincoln, Reagan, Biden) with Trump/Vance’s identity-based, zero-sum vision, warning that abandoning America’s ideals enables nativism, white identity politics, moral indifference abroad (e.g., Putin, Saudi Arabia), and betrayal of democratic responsibilities.

Faizan Zaki, 13, of Plano, Texas, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, claiming the $50,000 prize by correctly spelling “éclaircissement” after an earlier near-miss when he rushed and misspelled “commelina.” The finals began with nine poised contestants; eliminations accelerated in later rounds, with 11-year-old Sarv Dharavane finishing third and Sarvadnya Kadam also falling late. The event, held at National Harbor, marked the bee’s 100th anniversary. Zaki, last year’s runner-up, became the fifth champion to win after finishing second in a previous year.

The Justice Department said it will comply with a federal court order to facilitate the return of a Guatemalan man, identified as O.C.G., who was deported to Mexico and then sent to Guatemala despite expressing fear of violence and an immigration judge’s protections. Judge Brian E. Murphy found the removal likely lacked due process and ordered his return; DHS is arranging a charter flight. The move marks a de-escalation amid broader legal battles over the Trump administration’s push for mass and third-country deportations. The case also intersects with disputes over detainees held in Djibouti facing transfer to South Sudan, as the Supreme Court weighs whether to pause Judge Murphy’s orders. O.C.G., a gay man now in hiding in Guatemala, says he fears persecution; advocates urge swift return. DHS maintains it will continue fighting for expanded deportation powers.

Four months into his second term, President Trump has reshaped clemency to reward allies and supporters who claim politically motivated prosecutions, often bypassing traditional Justice Department vetting. He issued pardons and commutations to figures ranging from Jan. 6 defendants to conservative celebrities and former officials, including Brian Kelsey, Paul Walczak, Daniel Rodriguez, Todd and Julie Chrisley, Michael Grimm, and a Virginia sheriff. Many applications framed their cases as victims of “weaponized” justice under Biden, mirroring Trump’s own rhetoric. A burgeoning industry of clemency advocates has emerged to craft such appeals. Trump’s appointment of loyalist Ed Martin as pardon attorney—after firing a career official—signals an overtly political approach, with Martin also leading a DOJ “Weaponization Working Group” to pursue Trump’s grievances and facilitate more pardons for MAGA supporters.

President Trump issued more than two dozen pardons and commutations, bypassing the traditional Justice Department review to reward allies and high-profile figures. Notable pardons include former Rep. Michael Grimm, reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, rapper NBA YoungBoy (Kentrell Gaulden), former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, ex-Arkansas state senator Jeremy Hutchinson, and Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris. He also pardoned individuals tied to Covid-era defiance, union corruption, securities fraud, and drug cases. A key commutation went to Larry Hoover, the Gangster Disciples’ co-founder, reducing federal penalties but not freeing him due to long-standing state murder sentences. The moves reflect Trump’s ongoing use of clemency to aid supporters and reshape the process, guided in part by “pardon czar” Alice Johnson.

President Trump pardoned former Rep. Michael G. Grimm, a Republican from Staten Island who pleaded guilty in 2014 to felony tax fraud related to underreporting revenue and wages at a restaurant he owned. The White House framed the pardon as correcting a “weaponized” justice system, echoing Trump’s own rhetoric about his legal troubles. Grimm served seven months of an eight-month sentence, later worked as a Newsmax host, and has been paralyzed since a 2024 riding accident. He previously failed in a 2018 bid to reclaim his House seat. Trump also pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland, who resigned amid corruption probes, served prison time in 2005, and was convicted again in 2014 on additional public corruption charges.

The article reports that President Trump is using his pardon power to reshape public perceptions of crime, favoring political allies and white-collar offenders while minimizing corruption and fraud. He recently granted clemency to dozens, including Jan. 6 rioters and well-connected figures convicted of bribery, tax evasion, and campaign finance crimes, often framing prosecutions as politically motivated. Critics argue this normalizes nonviolent financial crimes and undermines the rule of law. Concurrently, the Justice Department under Trump has reduced anti-corruption staffing, dropped certain cases, and pursued investigations against perceived opponents, signaling a broader effort to politicize law enforcement and redefine criminality to align with the administration’s agenda.

The White House’s Make America Healthy Again Commission released a children’s health report that included multiple fake or inaccurate citations, prompting a corrected version to be uploaded. Experts said the errors resemble issues caused by generative AI and reflect poor vetting, though they don’t necessarily invalidate all findings. Some references were entirely fabricated or misattributed; others were real but mischaracterized. Researchers criticized the lapse in basic scholarly standards, noting it undermines confidence in the report’s conclusions, which include contentious claims about vaccines and broader concerns about food additives and ultraprocessed foods. The Department of Health and Human Services downplayed the mistakes as minor formatting issues.

Investigators in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico found 17 bodies in an abandoned house using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs, along with knives, machetes, pickaxes, and shovels. Five victims have been identified as missing persons. The discovery comes amid ongoing cartel violence in Guanajuato, Mexico’s deadliest state, driven by conflict between the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The region has recently seen multiple mass killings, including attacks on civilians and police. Since 2006, Mexico has recorded about 480,000 violent deaths, and families often search for remains due to perceived government inaction.

A young, two-ton southern elephant seal wandered into a residential area of Gordon’s Bay near Cape Town, surprising locals and prompting a coordinated rescue. Police and security tried to contain it as it moved through streets and rested on cars. Concerned it was too far from the ocean and could become dehydrated, marine specialists and a city vet sedated the animal and transported it to a nearby bay, where it safely returned to the sea. The SPCA noted such visits by young males to South Africa’s coast are unusual but do occur.

Colombia’s navy seized over six tons of cocaine worth about $300 million, intercepting a semi-submersible “narco sub” off the Pacific coast in Nariño and uncovering additional underground stashes. Authorities confiscated roughly 3,000 kilograms at sea and 270 kilograms from buried caches, releasing videos of the operations. The action follows a separate seizure of about three tons of narcotics bound for Central America, with three arrests. The report highlights the continued global use of low-profile semi-submersibles by traffickers, citing recent busts near Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and by the U.S. Coast Guard.

A woman walking her dog near Skofljica, southeast of Ljubljana, was critically injured in a bear attack on Tuesday. The bear retreated into the forest; police advised residents to avoid the area and deployed hunters to deter bears from human contact points. The incident follows Slovenia’s recent approval to cull 206 brown bears amid a population of around 1,000, a move opposed by animal rights groups. Slovenia recorded two bear attacks in 2022. Neighboring Slovakia has also faced a rise in bear incidents and approved shooting about 350 bears after fatal encounters this year.

Turkey’s civil aviation authority now fines airline passengers who unbuckle, access overhead bins, or stand before planes fully stop after landing. The rules, prompted by increased safety violations and complaints, require airlines to warn that infractions will be documented and reported, and remind passengers to disembark in order. Media report fines up to about $70, though enforcement reports are not yet confirmed. The measures aim to improve safety and orderly exits in a country with heavy tourist traffic.

Two leading weather agencies—the World Meteorological Organization and the U.K. Met Office—warn there’s an 80% chance of another annual global heat record within five years and an 86% chance at least one year will exceed 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, with a 70% chance the five-year average surpasses 1.5°C. There’s also a small but real chance a single year could hit 2°C before 2030. Scientists say continued warming will drive more extreme events—stronger hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, floods, fires, and faster Arctic ice melt and sea-level rise—posing rising risks to health, ecosystems, and economies. While Paris Agreement thresholds are based on 20-year averages (so not yet formally breached), current warming is about 1.4°C, and record highs are becoming the “new normal,” underscoring the need for stronger adaptation and monitoring.

Joseph Harris-Birtill, a British toddler born in November 2021, has become the youngest-ever Mensa member at 2 years and 182 days, per Guinness World Records. Demonstrating early advanced abilities—reading a book aloud before age 2, learning Morse code, the Greek alphabet, and showing interest in the periodic table—he joined Mensa after his parents sought support for highly able children. His mother highlighted the need for appropriate stimulation for gifted kids and hopes Mensa will provide a supportive peer community. He surpasses previous youngest records, including American Isla McNabb and the U.K.’s Teddy Hobbs.

A rare 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond, believed to have royal provenance from Queen Marie Antoinette and her daughter, Duchess Marie-Thérèse, will be auctioned at Christie’s New York on June 17. Likely originating from India’s Golconda mines and set in a ring by jeweler JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal), the kite-shaped gem is estimated to fetch $3–$5 million. The stone, last sold in 1996 and long out of public view, is tied to lore that Antoinette entrusted her jewels to her coiffeur during her 1791 escape attempt.

Onosato, 24, has been promoted to yokozuna, becoming Japan’s first homegrown grand champion since 2017 and breaking a stretch dominated by Mongolian wrestlers. Weighing 421 pounds, the Ishikawa native earned the rank after winning the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, following a March title. He pledged to honor the title and inspire his earthquake-hit home region. His rise sets up a high-profile rivalry with fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu of Mongolia, with a likely clash in July’s Nagoya tournament.

The U.S. State Department reissued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Venezuela, citing severe risks including wrongful detention, kidnapping, torture, arbitrary law enforcement, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. With no functioning U.S. Embassy or consulate in the country, the U.S. cannot provide consular assistance, and Americans currently in Venezuela are urged to leave immediately. The department says more U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, including cases stemming from accidental border crossings, and detainees often cannot contact family or legal counsel.

Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, addressed feelings of “betrayal” after filing for divorce from Hugh Jackman, 56, following their 27-year marriage. In a statement, she described the split as a deep wound but framed it as a path to self-love, integrity, and personal growth, saying the universe creates difficult circumstances to guide people back to themselves. The couple announced their separation in September 2023 and filed for divorce in New York on 23 May. Jackman has not directly responded to her comments; he recently posted an Instagram video set to NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.” They met in 1995, married in 1996, and have two adopted children.

At Sean “Diddy” Combs’ racketeering and sex trafficking trial, former stylist Deonte Nash testified that Combs repeatedly abused ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, including a Los Angeles incident where he beat her until she hit a bedframe and required stitches above her eye. Nash said Combs insulted Ventura, coerced her into drug-fueled “freak-off” sex parties with male prostitutes, and threatened to release sex tapes. Nash, a close friend of Ventura, said security took her to a plastic surgeon and he saw her with stitches the next day. The court also heard from Los Angeles officials about the arson of rapper Kid Cudi’s Porsche, including evidence of a makeshift Molotov cocktail and partially matched fingerprints; a defense objection led the judge to instruct the jury to disregard certain testimony but deny a mistrial. Ventura, who recently gave birth to her third child with husband Alex Fine, previously testified for four days. Nash is set to continue, with Combs’ former assistant “Mia” expected to follow. Combs has pleaded not guilty.

A German higher regional court in Hamm dismissed Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s lawsuit against energy giant RWE, ending a decade-long case seeking €17,000 to help fund flood defenses in Huaraz, Peru. The court ruled the flood risk to his property was not high enough to proceed and barred appeals. However, it acknowledged in principle that major emitters can be held liable under German civil law for climate-related risks, a point celebrated by climate advocates. RWE noted it has no operations in Peru and aims for carbon neutrality by 2040. The case had argued RWE’s historical emissions contributed to glacier melt increasing flood risk from Lake Palcacocha.

Kenyan President William Ruto publicly apologized to Tanzania amid a diplomatic row sparked by the detention and deportation of regional activists who went to observe Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s trial. The activists, including Kenya’s Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire, alleged torture and denial of consular access, prompting regional and international criticism and igniting online clashes between Kenyan and Tanzanian users. Tanzanian MPs condemned perceived Kenyan “meddling,” while President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned against foreign activists causing “chaos.” Ruto, speaking at a national prayer breakfast, asked Tanzania’s forgiveness and also apologized to Kenyan Gen-Z protesters critical of his government, though some dismissed his remarks and called for his resignation. Tanzania has not commented on the torture claims.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, the Kenyan literary giant and advocate for African languages, has died aged 87. Over six decades, his work chronicled Kenya’s transition from colonial rule to independence, often critiquing postcolonial elites. Born in 1938 under British rule, his life was shaped by the Mau Mau crackdown, including the killing of his brother. His debut, Weep Not, Child (1964), was the first major English-language novel by an East African. In 1977 he renounced his colonial name and English, committing to write in Kikuyu; that year he was jailed without trial after co-writing a politically charged play, penning Devil on the Cross in prison. Exiled for 22 years after threats to his life, he later survived a violent attack on returning to Kenya and continued his career in US academia. A leading voice for decolonizing literature, he argued for writing in African languages, even clashing with mentor Chinua Achebe. He faced serious health issues in later life and leaves behind nine children, several writers among them.

A court in Odisha, India, sentenced former college principal Punjilal Meher, 56, to life in prison for a 2018 parcel bomb attack that killed newlywed Soumya Sekhar Sahu and his great-aunt, and critically injured Sahu’s wife, Reema. The bomb, disguised as a wedding gift, detonated days after the couple’s marriage in Patnagarh. Investigators concluded Meher meticulously planned the attack over professional rivalry, mailing the device from Raipur under a false identity and using a courier without CCTV. A pivotal anonymous letter—allegedly sent by Meher—revealed details only the perpetrator would know and shifted suspicion toward him. The court deemed the crime heinous but not “rarest of the rare,” declining the death penalty.

Sarajevo is experiencing a surge in rat-borne diseases, particularly leptospirosis, amid widespread rodent infestations worsened by overflowing rubbish, illegal dumping, and a two-year lapse in pest control due to a failed tender process. The city has declared an epidemic and launched emergency clean-up measures, including intensified disinfection, rubbish collection, and school inspections. Health officials report multiple daily cases but no severe outcomes so far, though experts warn risks could escalate, potentially including hantavirus. Authorities frame the crisis as a failure of municipal hygiene rather than solely a health issue.

A new statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin at a Moscow Metro station, alongside a Kremlin adviser’s claim that the USSR still legally exists due to a dissolution “error,” reflects the Russian government’s effort to rewrite history. Steve Rosenberg argues these moves recast the Soviet past to legitimize current policies—especially the war in Ukraine—by invoking imperial continuity and downplaying repression, thereby shaping public memory to justify the present.

A massive collapse of Switzerland’s Birch glacier sent a mud and ice avalanche over the evacuated village of Blatten, flattening many homes and leaving one person missing. Authorities had warned residents to leave on 19 May due to glacier instability; army disaster relief has been requested and federal support promised. Officials cautioned further nearby evacuations may be needed. The incident underscores accelerating Alpine hazards driven by climate change, with melting glaciers and thawing permafrost increasing landslide and flood risks, and raises fears that some communities may never fully return.

Israel’s government approved the largest expansion of West Bank settlements since the Oslo Accords, authorizing 22 new settlements as part of a strategy to entrench control, prevent a Palestinian state, and pave the way for annexation. Peace Now said 12 will legalize existing illegal outposts, nine are entirely new, and one upgrades a neighborhood to a standalone settlement. Two sites were previously evacuated in 2005 but are being reinstated after the current government overturned the disengagement law. Palestinian officials and rights groups condemned the move as illegal under international law and a dangerous escalation amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the West Bank. Far-right ministers framed the decision as a step toward Israeli sovereignty over the territory.

Japan has introduced new rules to curb “kirakira” (sparkly) baby names with unconventional pronunciations, such as “Pikachu” or “Nike.” Effective Monday, officials will allow only widely accepted kanji readings and require parents to submit phonetic readings when registering names; authorities can reject names that don’t match typical pronunciations. Supporters say the change prevents confusion and potential harassment, while critics argue it stifles individualism. The move follows decades of rising unconventional names in Japan—especially for girls—reflecting broader social shifts toward uniqueness. Similar naming restrictions exist in countries like the US (varies by state), Germany, and New Zealand.

CNN highlights how many U.S. families rely on immigrant nannies and childcare workers—an “invisible workforce” critical to a sector already in shortage—while Trump-era enforcement policies raise fears and barriers that could destabilize it. The story centers on Catalina, a U.S.-born nanny, and her undocumented Peruvian mother, who faces low pay, no benefits, and heightened deportation risk, especially after the rollback of “sensitive locations” protections and broader arrest priorities. Experts note immigrants comprise about 20% of early educators and provide sought-after bilingual, culturally competent care. Increased enforcement and potential mass deportations could further drain the childcare workforce, making it harder for families to find care and deepening a nationwide childcare crisis.

Mexico will hold its first-ever judicial elections on Sunday, selecting nearly 900 federal posts—including all nine Supreme Court seats—and about 1,800 local positions in 19 states, with a second phase in 2027. The elections stem from a late-term reform by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, pitched as a way to reduce impunity and democratize the courts. Critics argue the change threatens judicial independence, risks political capture—especially by the ruling Morena party—and could be exploited by organized crime. Candidates are vetted by committees from all three branches, cannot receive party backing or public/private funding, and are barred from TV/radio ads, relying instead on social media and forums. A new Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal will oversee judges, raising concerns it could be used to pressure the judiciary if politicized. Reports of “cheat sheet” voter guides and investigations by the electoral authority highlight fears of indirect party influence. Rights groups warn cartels may sway outcomes through violence or co-optation, citing Mexico’s history of political-criminal attacks. Some candidates’ controversial backgrounds have also drawn complaints. Supporters say the rules curb partisan control; opponents fear weakened checks and balances amid high levels of crime and corruption.

Massive wildfires across western and central Canada have triggered states of emergency in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the largest evacuation in Manitoba in living memory, with about 17,000 people ordered to leave communities including Flin Flon and several First Nations. About 160 fires are burning nationwide, roughly half uncontrolled, as Canada raises its preparedness to the highest level unusually early in the season. Acreage burned is already 40% above the 10-year average, with most in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Smoke from these fires is set to drift into the US Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, threatening poor air quality in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and beyond, with alerts already issued. Experts link the worsening fire behavior and frequency to climate change, and forecasts suggest above-average wildfire activity in Canada and the western US through summer.

President Trump met Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the White House, criticizing him for not cutting interest rates. Powell emphasized the Fed’s decisions are driven solely by economic data, not politics, and did not discuss specific policy expectations. The meeting follows months of Trump’s public attacks on Powell for keeping rates steady, though Trump has recently backed off calls for his removal. The episode renews scrutiny of the Fed’s independence, though recent Supreme Court rulings and statements suggest limited implications for the central bank’s structure. Powell’s term runs through May 2026.

President Donald Trump said the US is “very close” to a new Iran nuclear deal and confirmed he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to disrupt talks. Negotiations, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and mediated by Oman, are focusing on uranium enrichment: the US has pushed for zero enrichment, while Iran rejects a total ban but says it won’t enrich to weapons-grade. Trump signaled openness to limited enrichment under stringent inspections and possible dismantlement of parts of Iran’s program. Options under discussion include a multinational consortium, potentially with US investment, to supply fuel for Iran’s civilian reactors. Israel’s potential strike on Iranian facilities remains a major risk to the talks. Iran’s ballistic missiles are not part of the current negotiations. Officials hope to finalize a broad framework at the next meeting in the Middle East, though Trump cautioned the situation could change quickly.

The Trump administration is pressuring federal law enforcement to triple daily immigration arrests and reach 1 million deportations annually, straining resources across agencies. Hundreds of FBI agents have been reassigned to immigration duties, prompting concerns about diverted attention from national security, cyber, and counterintelligence work. Some FBI offices are offering overtime and transfer incentives for participation, while supervisors reportedly discourage documenting resource shifts. The US Marshals Service and other agencies like CBP, DEA, and ATF are also being tapped to support ICE, despite limited funding and detention/deportation capacity. White House officials, including border czar Tom Homan and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, are pushing aggressive targets and quotas, while ICE undergoes leadership changes to align with the strategy. A larger funding boost is tied to a pending reconciliation bill, and DHS has requested National Guard support to bolster operations.

An Austrian intelligence report asserts Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons program and has advanced ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, contradicting the U.S. intelligence assessment that Iran is not building a bomb and halted such efforts in 2003. The report says Iran seeks nuclear deterrence to expand regional power, uses Vienna-based diplomatic cover for intelligence operations, and runs sophisticated sanctions-evasion networks benefiting Russia. It aligns with German and British views, according to expert David Albright, who criticizes the U.S. stance as outdated. The findings could complicate U.S. efforts to negotiate limits on Iran’s nuclear activities; the White House reiterated its commitment to preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon. The report also details Iran’s support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syrian militias. ODNI declined comment.

Iran executed Pedram Madani, 41, after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence for allegedly spying for Israel’s Mossad. State media said he met Mossad officers, including at Israel’s embassy in Belgium, and provided classified details on Iranian infrastructure in exchange for foreign currency and cryptocurrency. Arrested in 2020, Madani is the third person executed this year on similar charges. Rights group Iran Human Rights reports at least 60 executions in the past 10 days and notes such espionage cases often rely on vague accusations. Israel’s security agency did not comment.

A U.S. federal judge awarded over $20 million to American traveler Sam Goodwin, who was detained and tortured for 63 days in Syria in 2019 while attempting to visit every country. The judgment, secured by law firm Miller & Chevalier under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s state sponsor of terrorism exception, grants roughly $10 million each in compensatory and punitive damages. About half may be payable via the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund over time. Goodwin was held in Syria’s notorious Branch 215, subjected to solitary confinement and threats, and was ultimately freed through regional intermediaries. He and his legal team framed the ruling as accountability for the Assad regime and encouragement for other victims. The firm previously won similar cases, including a $50 million judgment for another American detainee.

Seven migrants—four women and three girls—died when an overcrowded boat carrying more than 100 people capsized during a rescue operation as it reached the port of La Restinga on El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands. The vessel tipped as rescuers began removing minors, throwing occupants into the water. A helicopter airlifted two children in serious condition, and a search continued for a missing baby. The Canary Islands remain a major, perilous route to Europe, with nearly 47,000 arrivals in 2024; about 10,800 had arrived by mid-May 2025, down 34% year-over-year. Most migrants originate from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, often departing via Mauritania.

President Trump confirmed he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from striking Iran’s nuclear sites while U.S.-Iran nuclear talks are ongoing, calling such action inappropriate as he seeks a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The comments followed reports that Netanyahu considered hitting Iran’s facilities, which his office denied. Iran warned the UN of “catastrophic consequences” if Israel attacked and said the U.S. would bear legal responsibility. Trump characterized recent talks with Iran as positive.

Turkey launched a nationwide campaign to weigh and measure citizens in public spaces to combat rising obesity, aiming to assess about 10 million people from May 10 to July 10. Those with a BMI of 25 or higher are referred to health centers for dietitian support. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu promoted the effort, even sharing his own overweight result and pledging to walk daily. Critics call the initiative invasive and stigmatizing, arguing it ignores underlying issues like high food prices and limited access to healthy options. About 32.1% of Turkey’s population is obese, according to the WHO.

A South Korean navy patrol plane carrying four people crashed in mountainous terrain near Pohang around 1:50 p.m. local time. Residents reported seeing an object fall and an explosion. Rescue crews and fire trucks were dispatched, but authorities have not yet confirmed casualties. Further details are pending.

China’s Type 055 destroyer Lhasa can now conduct precise beyond-visual-range strikes by linking with PLA airborne early warning (AEW) platforms, CCTV reported. The data-link integration enables real-time battlefield data fusion, extending detection and engagement ranges for both air and sea targets without relying solely on ship radars. In recent Northern Theatre Command exercises, Lhasa fired missiles guided by airborne targeting cues with multi-service coordination. Analysts likened the capability to Pakistan’s networked use of Chinese systems in Kashmir, where AEW aircraft guided long-range missiles using data from ground air defenses.

China is developing a rapid-response “self-defence” system for its Tiangong space station that can deploy small robotic thrusters to latch onto and push away suspicious nearby spacecraft, according to Sun Zhibin of the National Space Science Centre. The system would assess intent and choose responses such as orbit adjustments or deploying the robots. The effort follows earlier incidents in 2021 when Tiangong performed evasive maneuvers to avoid close approaches by SpaceX Starlink satellites, one reportedly coming within about 3 km.

SCMP highlights five trending China stories: A devoted husband spent 2 million yuan on treatment and serenaded his cancer-stricken, vegetative wife daily until she finally woke up; a fishing enthusiast was fined after driving with a giant fish tied to the back of his car; and public outrage erupted after an elderly woman died outside a bank that required her to withdraw funds in person. Two additional trending items were teased but not fully detailed in the excerpt.

The Philippines is expanding its naval infrastructure amid rising South China Sea tensions, with new bases planned in Subic Bay and Mindanao as part of the Armed Forces’ Horizon 3 modernization program. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced ground-breaking at Naval Station Nabasan and expansion to Subic’s Grande and Chiquita Islands, signaling a push to enhance maritime defense, support an expanding warship fleet, and reduce reliance on foreign shipbuilders by developing local shipyards. The moves may also complement existing US-Philippine defense arrangements, reflecting Manila’s intent to strengthen regional deterrence and operational reach.

Hong Kong artists and designers are seeking stronger support to capitalize on the booming “goods economy” driven by collectible IP, such as designer toys and luxury collaborations. The article spotlights high-end demand through a Hong Kong fintech millionaire who has spent millions on Kaws and Michael Lau works, including a limited-edition Audemars Piguet watch featuring Kaws’ Companion. Figures like Kaws and Lau exemplify how compelling character IP can evolve from toys to globally valuable brands. The piece argues Hong Kong has the creative talent and collector base to build the next breakout IP (like Labubu), but creators need ecosystem backing—funding, infrastructure, curation, and market access—to scale from niche collectibles to sustained, lucrative intellectual property.

Chinese startup DeepSeek quietly released an upgraded version of its open-source reasoning model, DeepSeek R1, on Hugging Face. The new model shows sharper reasoning, stronger math and coding performance, and reduced hallucinations, placing it just behind OpenAI’s o4-mini and o3 on the LiveCodeBench leaderboard. The move underscores China’s rapid AI progress despite U.S. chip export controls, with DeepSeek continuing to challenge top Western models and prompting broader industry reassessment of costs and development speed. Nvidia’s CEO criticized U.S. export policies, noting China already has significant AI capabilities.

German tank gearbox maker Renk is rapidly hiring talent from Germany’s struggling auto sector to meet surging defense demand driven by higher military spending and the war in Ukraine. Renk’s shares are up over 300% this year, with Q1 orders up 164% to €549 million. CEO Alexander Sagel and COO Emmerich Schiller, both with automotive backgrounds, say auto engineers bring valuable methods like continuous improvement and lean principles to scale production and quality. Broader industry players (Hensoldt, Rheinmetall) are also tapping auto expertise amid excess auto capacity and job risks. Unions and analysts see both opportunity and caution: shifting workers could bolster defense output and jobs, but IG Metall warns against a one-sided focus on rearmament. German economic advisers urge facilitating worker transitions and reskilling as auto layoffs loom.

Eight OPEC+ members—Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, Oman, and Kazakhstan—are likely to raise oil output by up to 411,000 barrels per day in July as they continue unwinding voluntary cuts. This follows planned increases in April-June totaling 1 million bpd, separate from longer-running 1.66 million bpd cuts through next year. Markets are focused on these voluntary adjustments rather than unchanged official quotas, with a final decision expected May 31. Seasonal summer demand could support prices, which edged up slightly amid broader uncertainty.

Salesforce beat Q1 FY2026 expectations with 8% revenue growth to $9.83 billion and adjusted EPS of $2.58, and raised full-year guidance. However, the stock reaction was muted as much of the outlook boost came from foreign-exchange tailwinds, with CFO citing a $250 million FX benefit to revenue this year and a $400 million increase to the high end of guidance. Constant-currency subscription growth is about 9%. AI momentum is building: combined ARR for Data Cloud and Agentforce surpassed $1 billion, Agentforce alone is over $100 million ARR, and nearly 60% of top-100 deals included both products; more than 8,000 Agentforce deals have closed, about half paid. RPO and cRPO outperformed, but core clouds (Sales, Service) underwhelmed, fueling bears’ concerns that legacy businesses lag while AI ramps. Management and CNBC’s Investing Club remain constructive on long-term AI upside, reiterating a buy-equivalent rating but trimming the price target to $350 from $400.

South Korea’s central bank cut its policy rate by 25 bps to 2.5%, the fourth cut in six meetings, citing a sharp growth slowdown amid political turmoil and U.S. tariff uncertainty. The BOK signaled more easing ahead, saying growth will “decline considerably” while inflation stays broadly stable, and cut its 2025 GDP forecast to 0.8% (vs. 1.5% prior). Q1 GDP contracted 0.1% y/y, the first drop since 2020. Markets reacted with the Kospi up 1.25% and the won weaker. Analysts expect potential fiscal stimulus after the June 3 snap presidential election, though property and export headwinds may limit growth to around 0.5%.

Chinese paraglider Peng Yujiang was accidentally lifted to over 8,000 meters by a powerful updraft while testing second-hand gear in the Qilian Mountains. Video shows him above the clouds, iced over in -35C, briefly losing consciousness and struggling to descend before landing safely about 30km away after more than an hour in the air. Authorities praised his survival but banned him and a friend for six months for unregistered activity and posting the viral video without permission. Any potential record won’t be recognized due to lack of registration; his altitude approached the 9,946m accidental flight record set by Ewa Wiśnierska in 2007.

Former UK ambassador to Egypt John Casson urged the government to advise against travel to Egypt after Cairo refused consular access and release for British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, whom a UN panel says has been arbitrarily detained since 2019. Casson described Egypt as a police state that abuses British citizens’ rights and blocks embassy functions, citing past cases of torture and arbitrary detention. He co-signed a letter with Labour peers calling for tougher travel advice, arguing it should match warnings for Hong Kong and Iran. Despite UK diplomatic efforts and Egypt’s reliance on tourism, Cairo maintains it does not recognize Abd el-Fattah’s dual citizenship and has denied access. Current UK advice highlights terrorism risks and cautions about critical speech but does not warn against major tourist areas.

Mauritanian economist Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank after three voting rounds at the bank’s annual meetings in Abidjan. He won 76% of the vote, defeating Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo (20%) and Senegal’s Amadou Hott (3.5%). Tah, former head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, will succeed Akinwunmi Adesina when his term ends in September, becoming the AfDB’s ninth president. The 60-year-old institution, owned by 54 African countries and non-African shareholders including G7 nations, faces funding pressures as the US plans to cut $555m. Tah has pledged greater collaboration with Gulf states to finance infrastructure, while the next replenishment of the African Development Fund begins in November.

A South African court sentenced Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and friend Steveno van Rhyn to life imprisonment for human trafficking and 10 years for kidnapping, to run concurrently, for selling Smith’s six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, to a traditional healer in 2024. Joshlin remains missing despite an extensive search, which has now extended beyond South Africa. The judge condemned the trio’s lack of remorse and drug use as no excuse, and ordered their names added to the child protection register. The case drew national attention amid a surge in kidnappings across the country. Smith’s mother, now caring for the other two children, described the profound impact on the family.

Manitoba declared a province-wide state of emergency as more than 17,000 people were ordered to evacuate amid an unusually severe start to wildfire season. Premier Wab Kinew requested Canadian military support for evacuations and firefighting, with aircraft to move residents—especially from remote northern and Indigenous communities—to safety, largely in Winnipeg. Fires threaten towns including Flin Flon, where residents faced gridlocked roads and fuel shortages. Canada has 134 active wildfires, about half out of control, with Manitoba seeing the highest activity due to prolonged warm, dry conditions; nearly 200,000 hectares have burned in a month. A firefighter was seriously injured, and earlier this month two people died in a separate blaze. Authorities warned the widespread fires reflect a changing climate.

Sky News reports intensified settler violence and coercion in the Palestinian village of Ras al-Ayn amid Israel’s plan to establish 22 new West Bank settlements, including legalizing unauthorized outposts. Activists and human rights groups like B’Tselem describe a systematic campaign to drive Palestinians from their homes—cutting water access, blocking grazing, stealing livestock, and carrying out assaults—often with impunity under Israeli military control. Residents say they live under siege, while footage shows armed settlers moving freely. B’Tselem calls the process state-backed “ethnic cleansing,” a charge Israel rejects as baseless. With 700,000 settlers now in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, critics warn expanding settlements and military zones are rapidly erasing the territory needed for a future Palestinian state.

A partial glacier collapse triggered a massive mud, rock, and ice slide that buried about 90% of Blatten, a Swiss mountain village in Valais. One person is missing. Around 300 residents and livestock had been evacuated on 19 May after geologists warned the 1.5 million cubic meter glacier was at risk of imminent collapse. The slide destroyed buildings and infrastructure; authorities have declared the area hazardous. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed solidarity with affected residents.

The article profiles Tabor, a segregated Roma settlement within Mukachevo, western Ukraine, that effectively operates outside state oversight. Most residents lack registration; around 90% of homes and shops are illegal, and there are no schools, hospitals, or basic infrastructure. Poverty, neglect, and entrenched corruption bind locals to a parallel system where “barons” mediate with authorities, often trading votes and bribes for limited tolerance. Activist Rada Kalandiya, herself Romani and displaced from the Donbas, partners with local leader Gaspar Horvath to break this cycle through practical aid and long-term initiatives: counseling centers, education projects, and community support aimed at women and families. While many Roma see migration to Western Europe as an escape, they frequently face renewed discrimination abroad. The piece highlights the need for systemic change—legal recognition, infrastructure, and education—to replace patronage and marginalization with genuine inclusion.