Iniaes

In Cyprus

Cyprus has started voting in a parliamentary election that could shift the country’s political balance, with anger over corruption and the rising cost of living near the top of the ballot. Voters seem to have arrived at the usual conclusion: they would like less scandal and lower prices, a request that remains stubbornly difficult for politics to process.

In the Middle East

Iran says a proposed peace deal with Washington still needs approval from the supreme leader and the national security council, and that one or two clauses remain unresolved before it can move toward ratification. Iranian officials say they have passed those concerns to Pakistani mediators, while Donald Trump said on Saturday that the deal had been largely negotiated.

In Pakistan

At least 24 people were killed and more than 70 injured after a suicide bomber struck near a train carrying military personnel in Quetta, in southwestern Balochistan province. Officials said the blast overturned two passenger cars, set them on fire, and damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility.

In the UK

HMRC has ended the standalone tax relief for employees working from home, removing the weekly £6 deduction for the current tax year, though some people may still be able to backdate claims. Labour has also ruled out raising the personal tax-free allowance to £18,000.

Separately, Nationwide is facing governance questions ahead of its annual general meeting, after concerns were raised about bundled votes and member representation across the building society sector.

In the United States

A federal watchdog has opened a formal audit into how the Department of Homeland Security spent nearly $1 billion buying warehouses at above-market prices as part of Kristi Noem’s $38.3 billion ICE detention overhaul.

Ron DeSantis is also trying to distance himself from Florida’s controversial detention center, as public criticism grows over reports of harsh conditions, including human cages, overflowing toilets, and a facility costing about $1 million a day.

In sport

Cape Verde are preparing for their first World Cup appearance in 2026, a major milestone for a country that has long been a presence at continental level and is now heading to football’s biggest stage.

In Washington

A gunman opened fire near a White House security checkpoint, prompting a lockdown before Secret Service agents shot him dead. President Donald Trump was inside and unharmed. One civilian is in critical condition, and the FBI is now handling the investigation.

In a separate case, federal prosecutors say an Iraqi national extradited from Turkey plotted to kill Ivanka Trump in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani. Officials say he gathered information on her Florida home, posted threats online, and had ties to Iran-backed groups. The man is being held in solitary confinement in Brooklyn.

In Ukraine

At least four people were killed in a large Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv overnight. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned that Russian forces might be preparing a major attack with the Oreshnik ballistic missile, though it was not immediately clear whether that weapon was used.

In central Africa

Violence around Ebola response efforts is intensifying in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where attacks on treatment centers are rising as anger and mistrust spread over burial practices. Local traditions are colliding with public health measures, and the outbreak is becoming harder to contain.

Three Red Cross volunteers have also died of suspected Ebola in the country, among the first named victims of the outbreak. Officials say the epidemic, driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus, continues to spread.

In the Middle East

Iran has reportedly agreed to hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium under the deal announced Saturday by President Donald Trump, according to two U.S. officials cited by the New York Times. The material had been a major sticking point in the talks, and the White House has not yet laid out how the handover would be enforced or what happens to the uranium afterward.

In U.S. security

Authorities say a suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint near the White House, opened fire, and was shot dead by officers. A bystander was wounded, and the White House was briefly locked down while police cleared the area and set up a perimeter. Investigators say the suspect was already known to Washington, D.C., police and federal authorities.

In health

The CDC has added two more airports to its Ebola screening program for travelers entering the United States, expanding the net for arrivals linked to the outbreak response. Separately, health officials are warning that a resurgence of Ebola in central Africa, tied to the rare Bundibugyo strain, is prompting global concern, new travel restrictions, and more pressure on border screening systems.

In business

New analysis says the Iran war is hitting South Africa especially hard through diesel, not petrol. Diesel powers freight, food distribution, mining, farming, and backup electricity, so the price spike is feeding straight into the real economy. The added fuel bill could reach about R45 billion, with nearly 70 percent of that coming from diesel, and the pressure is expected to weigh on government finances and inflation. A very modern problem, if by modern you mean expensive and preventable.

In tech

Linus Torvalds says AI tools are driving a noticeable rise in Linux kernel development, with commits up about 20 percent over the last two releases. He also says the same tools are creating a flood of duplicate and low-value bug reports for small teams to sort through. Linux has responded by adding filters and updating its documentation, which is what happens when the machine starts producing both the work and the inbox.

In the war in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s use of the Oreshnik missile in Kyiv “sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors.” Blasts were reported across the capital after the strike, underscoring how the war keeps widening the risk to everyone watching.

In Washington

The White House was locked down Saturday evening after gunshots were reported nearby, with reporters rushed inside and the North Lawn cleared. Authorities said the Secret Service and FBI responded to the scene, and one suspect was hospitalized in critical condition. Details on whether anyone else was hit were still limited.

In tech and security

Anthropic appears to be preparing its Mythos 1 model for Claude Code and Claude Security, based on new product references and interface strings. The company is also building a new security dashboard with vulnerability lists and short-term trend charts, while rumors continue that Claude Opus 4.8 is in internal testing with some partners.

Separately, the White House has ordered federal agencies to install its official app on government devices starting next week, drawing cybersecurity concerns from experts.

In business

A U.K. parliamentary trade committee is urging a full investigation into the live music market, saying Live Nation operates in a “climate of fear.” The committee wants the Competition and Markets Authority to step in and look at the broader industry.

In international news

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has warned of a possible major Russian air attack within 24 hours and told Americans in Ukraine to be ready to shelter immediately if air raid alerts sound. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she plans to run again and expects to return to Venezuela by the end of 2026.

President Trump also said the U.S. and Iran have “largely negotiated” a deal to end the war, with final details still being worked out. That’s the kind of sentence that tends to age in public.

In U.S. news

The White House app is drawing privacy complaints after researchers said it shares user data with third-party services and leaves parts of its disclosures incomplete. The app was launched in March and is also being criticized for how it surfaces presidential messaging and for showing up on government-issued phones. Small detail, enormous confidence.

The CDC has expanded enhanced Ebola screening to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for travelers arriving from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, part of the federal response to a recent outbreak.

In Texas, a Houston woman is in jail and her girlfriend is wanted after investigators accused them of abusing two young children and coordinating false statements to police. Deputies say the injuries were severe, including a brain bleed, broken bones, bruising, and possible liver trauma.

In international news

Gunmen killed at least 25 people in two attacks on Honduras’s coast, including six police officers, according to authorities. The shootings are being treated as separate assaults on the same day.

In Serbia, tens of thousands of antigovernment protesters have taken to the streets again, with students pressing for early elections and keeping up a movement that began after the Novi Sad disaster last year.

Iran says it will move its 2026 World Cup preparation base from Arizona to Mexico after FIFA approval, a reminder that even football has to work around geopolitics.

Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, met senior Iranian officials in Tehran as Islamabad and Doha work on a memorandum aimed at ending the war involving Iran and Israel.

Police in Spain detained members of the Global Sumud Flotilla and their supporters at Bilbao Airport.

Gisèle Pelicot says she has learned to trust and love again after the years-long abuse orchestrated by her former husband in France, and used a festival appearance in Wales to urge society to confront violence against women.

In sports

Leinster were beaten heavily by Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final, their fifth defeat in the competition’s final. The loss has renewed pressure on head coach Leo Cullen and defense coach Jacques Nienaber, with some fans already calling for changes.

In U.S. news

In New Mexico, three people died and 18 first responders were sickened after an apparent fentanyl exposure at a rural home in Mountainair. Officers found four people unconscious, and the responders were hospitalized and decontaminated.

Philadelphia police are investigating two overnight shootings in Spring Garden and Parkside, with multiple victims reported in both cases.

The State Department says it plans to revoke passports from Americans who owe child support, a move critics argue could punish families without doing much to fix the debt.

A federal judge dismissed Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against Melania Trump, saying his anti-SLAPP filing was premature and came in a “somewhat contorted posture.”

In the Middle East

Iran is hosting Pakistan’s army chief as it tries to ward off renewed U.S. strikes, with Iranian officials saying they will not compromise on what they call the country’s legitimate rights. Tehran is also facing a wider U.S. naval pressure campaign in the Strait of Hormuz, where Central Command says more than 100 commercial ships have been rerouted and more than 15,000 U.S. troops are involved.

Separately, an Israeli strike hit a police post in northern Gaza, killing five police officers and a 13-year-old boy, while dozens more people were wounded in Israeli attacks over the past 48 hours.

In disasters and public health

More than 90 people have been killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, the country’s deadliest mining disaster since 2009.

In eastern Congo, a treatment tent for an Ebola outbreak was set on fire for a second time this week, and 18 suspected patients escaped, according to a local hospital director.

In tech and space

SpaceX says its latest Starship test flight from Texas was a success after the vehicle flew for nearly an hour, deployed 20 mock Starlink satellites, and then ended in a planned splashdown fireball in the Indian Ocean.

In China

A coal mine explosion in Shanxi province has killed at least 90 workers, with nine still missing and more than 120 people hospitalized, according to state media. Rescue crews are still working through the aftermath.

At Dover

Lorries and holidaymakers were hit with long queues at the Port of Dover as the EU’s new entry-exit system was rolled out. Delays reportedly stretched to around four and a half hours before French authorities suspended the extra checks for now to ease traffic flow.

In Europe and security

Backlash is growing after Mohamed Bakkali, described as a coordinator of the Paris attacks, was granted prison leave six times for 36 hours each. The decision has drawn anger in both Belgium and France.

Separately, an undercover investigation says Iran’s intelligence services appeared to be trying to recruit Britons in London to organize anti-Israel protests and spread propaganda, offering payment and instructions to place posters and bring in more people. The Metropolitan Police says it is now looking at whether this “gig economy” model of espionage is being used in the capital.

In U.S. news

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has vetoed a bill that would have made collective bargaining mandatory for public employees statewide. She said she still supports collective bargaining, but unions criticized the veto after lawmakers rejected her weakened alternative.

In Philadelphia, police are investigating two overnight shootings in Spring Garden and Parkside, where multiple victims were reported. In Wissinoming, a drive-by shooting injured a teenager and an adult, and stray bullets damaged a pickup truck.

In business

Take-Two says rising console prices should not stop demand for GTA 6, which is due out on consoles on November 19, 2026. The company says it is counting on a larger console audience by then, helped along by holiday sales and, presumably, one very large video game.

In China

At least 90 people are dead after a coal mine explosion in Shanxi province, with nine still missing and more than 100 injured or taken to hospital. Authorities have sent hundreds of emergency workers to the site, and President Xi Jinping has ordered rescue efforts, treatment for the injured, and an investigation into what went wrong. Reports say carbon monoxide levels had exceeded limits, a fairly grim sign that someone noticed the danger before the blast did.

In the Middle East

Iran says major gaps remain in talks with the United States, even as mediation efforts continue and Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, visits Tehran.

Separately, video shows Israeli strikes hitting the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza, with dozens injured, despite a ceasefire agreement.

In travel

Thailand has cut its visa-free stay for British visitors and travelers from dozens of other countries from 60 days to 30. Officials say the change is aimed at curbing organised crime, illegal work, and sex trafficking networks that have been using tourism as cover.

In U.S. news

Federal prosecutors say they have charged a suspect in an alleged plot to kill Ivanka Trump, after what they describe as online threats, surveillance, and links to attacks across Europe and the U.S. Separately, Tulsi Gabbard has resigned as director of national intelligence, saying she is stepping down because her husband has cancer. The administration also says most green card applicants will now have to file from outside the United States, closing a loophole that had let many apply while already inside the country.

In Philadelphia, federal officials are warning people not to fly drones during World Cup matches and other major summer events.

Public safety incidents

In west London, police have arrested a 26-year-old man after five people were injured in a daytime stabbing on Horn Lane in Acton. Four men were taken to hospital with stab wounds, and none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. Detectives are still trying to establish exactly what happened, and police say there will be a greater presence in the area in the coming days.

In California, more than 40,000 people have been evacuated after a chemical tank leak raised fears of an explosion. Officials say the substance is highly volatile. In New York City, one civilian was killed and 36 other people were injured in a shipyard explosion, with many of the injured first responders. Police in Northeast Philadelphia are also investigating skeletal remains found near a creek.

Local and community notes

Residents of Fishtown Flats Apartments say they are worried about safety and maintenance after the building’s management company abruptly exited. And in Brandywine Park, an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran has quietly marked Memorial Day by sitting near the memorial and honoring the men he served with for more than 40 years.

In U.S. news

A federal judge in Texas has allowed Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, to move forward with her defamation suit against former FBI agent and podcaster Kyle Seraphin. The case centers on Seraphin’s claims that Wilkins was a former Mossad agent and a foreign intelligence “honeypot.” The court said she plausibly alleged the remarks were false factual assertions and that Seraphin may have acted with actual malice.

Separately, the Trump administration says people in the U.S. on temporary visas will have to leave the country before applying for a green card, a change that could complicate the path to permanent residency for many applicants. Tulsi Gabbard has resigned as director of national intelligence, saying her husband’s rare bone cancer requires her full attention.

In public safety

At least 16 people, including firefighters, were injured in an explosion at a dry dock on Staten Island, New York City officials said. The blast happened at a shipyard Friday, and the cause was not immediately clear.

In Wilmington, Delaware, a 22-year-old man is facing rape charges after police say they found him in a park after hours with an underage girl. And in Ocean City, New Jersey, the unofficial start of summer came with chilly, windy rain, plus a grim update: the search for a 20-year-old man missing off 10th Street beach has become a recovery mission.

In science and space

SpaceX launched the 12th test flight of Starship, its largest rocket yet, in another step toward the company’s long-term Mars plans. NASA’s Artemis program and the moon remain the nearer target.

In culture

Rob Base, the rapper behind “It Takes Two,” has died at 59. A statement on his Instagram said his music and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions.