Iniaes

In the global economy

The OECD says the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict could slow growth in the U.S., China and the EU, while pushing inflation higher in rich and poor countries alike. It warns the outlook gets worse if the fighting drags on beyond this year, and S&P says Africa is especially exposed because it relies on imported fuel and has little fiscal room to absorb the shock.

Humanitarian groups are also warning that war and extreme weather could deepen food insecurity. Scientists expect a strong El Niño this year, which could bring droughts and floods, cut staple crop yields, and add to the pressure from higher fertilizer prices during planting season.

In Europe and climate news

Spain recorded 101 heat-related deaths in May after unusually high temperatures arrived early. Health officials say the risk rises with every degree above alert thresholds.

In U.S. news

A federal appeals court appeared skeptical of the Trump administration’s push to end the Flores settlement, the long-standing agreement that requires detained migrant children to be held in licensed, humane facilities and released quickly when possible. Judges in Seattle pressed the Justice Department on whether its proposal would violate children’s constitutional rights.

Federal agents say they uncovered a drug smuggling operation that used a suspected tunnel between Mexico and the United States to move more than $45 million in cocaine.

In tech and security

Anthropic is expanding access to its cybersecurity model, Mythos, to 150 new partners in more than 15 countries. The company says a successful attack on any of those systems could affect more than 100 million people.

In the UK

Britain’s fiscal watchdog says it underestimated government borrowing by about £60 billion across successive forecasts, adding fresh pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Office for Budget Responsibility said its growth forecasts were too optimistic, and that the £25 billion rise in employer national insurance hit the public finances harder than expected. Actual borrowing for 2024/25 came in around £151 billion, with high inflation, higher interest rates, and energy costs all weighing on the figures.

Separately, a helicopter has crashed into a field in Devon, closing the A386 between the A30 and Okehampton. No further details were given.

In Ukraine and Russia

Seven people were killed when a drone hit a bus in Russian-controlled territory, according to Russian-installed officials. The bus was travelling between Moscow and Simferopol in occupied Crimea.

Ukraine also targeted St. Petersburg as Russia opened its main economic forum. The strike came a day after Russia launched a large drone and missile barrage on Ukraine that killed at least 23 people.

In tech and media

Microsoft has unveiled seven in-house AI models at Build 2026, a move aimed at lowering costs and competing more directly with OpenAI and Anthropic. The company’s biggest investees are also heading toward record-breaking IPOs.

CBS has dismissed veteran 60 Minutes journalist Scott Pelley after a reported clash with management. Pelley had previously accused bosses of “murdering” the programme before his exit.

In U.S. politics

Decision Desk HQ projects businessman Zach Lahn will face state auditor Rob Sand in Iowa’s governor’s race, after Lahn won the Republican primary over four challengers, including Rep. Randy Feenstra, who had backing from President Trump and retiring Sen. Joni Ernst. Sand was unopposed on the Democratic side. In New Jersey, former Navy commander Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary in the 7th District and will challenge Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. this fall. Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock also won the Democratic primary in the 2nd District, setting up a race against Rep. Jeff Van Drew.

On the courts and redistricting

The Supreme Court is letting Alabama use a congressional map that favors Republicans in this year’s elections, blocking a lower court ruling that said the map intentionally discriminated against Black voters. The court did not explain the decision in detail, which is always reassuring in the way a locked door is reassuring.

International pressure and prison sentences

In Israel, hawkish voices are criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not escalating airstrikes on Beirut, a sign that even his harder-line supporters think he is not being aggressive enough. In Tunisia, a court sentenced opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to life in prison, along with dozens of other defendants, on charges tied to forming a terrorist alliance.

Markets and chips

South Korea’s stock market has hit record highs on the back of surging AI chip demand, pushing the country past India to become the world’s sixth-largest market. SK Hynix has joined Samsung Electronics and TSMC in the trillion-dollar club, but analysts warn the rally is heavily concentrated in a couple of chipmakers and could be vulnerable if the boom cools.

In sports

Tomas Hertl scored the go-ahead goal with 3:24 left as the Vegas Golden Knights rallied past the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas erased an early two-goal deficit and now leads the series 1-0, three wins away from another title.

In U.S. security and politics

A Frontier flight from San Juan to Chicago was diverted to Miami after authorities say a passenger tried to pry open exit doors, moved toward the cockpit, and attacked an off-duty flight attendant before being restrained by other passengers. He was taken into custody on landing and charged with misdemeanor battery. The flight then continued to Chicago after the delay.

Separately, the Trump administration has hired a convicted Jan. 6 rioter for a Pentagon job tied to special operations and irregular warfare. It raises the usual questions about judgment.

In local law enforcement

Police in Bakersfield, California, said several downtown buildings were locked down after reports of a bomb threat and a hostage situation involving a man barricaded inside a bank. Details were still limited.

In Congress and the campaign trail

New Jersey voters are picking nominees in a state primary that could matter far beyond the state, including one closely watched House district. Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. says he may still be weeks away from returning to public life while recovering from what aides have described as a personal medical condition.

In Illinois, Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Tammy Duckworth are calling on interim U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign after the failed Broadview Six case, saying his tenure has been marked by dysfunction and misconduct allegations.

In health care in England

Members of Parliament say overloaded GPs are no longer able to properly help older people at risk of falls, and NHS leaders told them the situation is unacceptable. The committee also pointed to pressure created after patients were given online access to GP services, which has made an already stretched system even tighter.

In U.S. politics

New York Democrats have put forward a redistricting measure that could add up to four House seats to their delegation in 2028, after an earlier redraw effort failed this year. The plan would use a single constitutional amendment to block mid-decade redistricting, then move with a simple majority vote.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is also set to meet Donald Trump at the White House as he works to line up Republican support and raise money in his Senate race.

In tech and work

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Congress that artificial intelligence could do more than eliminate white-collar jobs over time, saying it could also create political instability and shake societies around the world.

Sen. Bernie Sanders says he will soon introduce a bill that would give the public a 50 percent stake in major AI companies through an “AI Sovereign Wealth Fund.” That proposal is expected in the coming weeks.

In business

An investigation into visa processing giant VFS Global says the company is making money from millions of visa applications from the Global South, turning a bureaucratic bottleneck into a profitable industry.

In climate and humanitarian news

The UN is warning that El Niño could return as soon as September, bringing more extreme weather, heavier rainfall in some regions, and added strain on a warming planet.

In the UK, campaigners are urging ministers to expand medical evacuations for seriously ill children from Gaza. The government said as many as 300 children could eventually be brought over for treatment, but so far only 50 have arrived, and children who have already been treated went to Parliament to press the case.

In sports

Sir Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool and Scotland great, says he is receiving treatment for cancer and that it is going well. Liverpool said the club’s thoughts are with him and his family.

In U.K. news

Police watchdogs are investigating Avon and Somerset Police’s contact with Jo Shaw and her former partner before the pair died in a Bristol explosion in May. Shaw was 35, Kelly was 41, and police say he forced his way into a house with explosives before both were killed.

Separately, Leicestershire Police say a driver with a medically revoked licence was caught with 45 penalty points during a year-long crackdown on uninsured and repeat offenders. The operation has now seized 105 uninsured vehicles linked to more than 500 speeding and red-light offences.

In Belfast, former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is on trial on 18 sex abuse charges, which he denies. One accuser says he later apologized to her at a Christian centre.

In international news

Iranian reports say Tehran has stopped talks with mediators as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues in Lebanon. The reports from Fars and Tasnim say Iran now sees the Lebanon conflict as part of the broader ceasefire talks with the U.S. over the war.

Chile’s birth rate has fallen to a historic low, dropping below one child per woman. The decline, nearly 47 percent over 32 years, is intensifying concerns about the country’s long-term population outlook.

Pope Leo has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, president of EWTN News, to lead the Vatican’s communications department. She becomes the first lay woman to hold a top governance role in the Roman Catholic Church.

In business and defence

Saab has unveiled the first two-seat Gripen F fighter for Brazil, rolling it out at its facility in Linköping before flight testing. Brazil helped develop the variant under a long technology-transfer deal, and 11 of the 36 aircraft ordered in 2014 have been delivered so far.

In sport

England will wait until late to decide whether Sonny Baker makes his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s. Brendon McCullum has backed the Hampshire quick’s pace, with Gus Atkinson another option if conditions suit, and Jacob Bethell is fit again after a finger injury. England’s selection committee is still doing what it does best: keeping everyone guessing until the last possible moment.

In U.S. politics

Republican senators are pressing Donald Trump over his Anti-Weaponisation Fund, a €1.5 billion program meant to compensate people who say they were targeted by politically motivated investigations. Even by modern standards, handing out a billion-plus under the banner of grievance is drawing questions inside his own party.

In Europe

EU leaders are weighing whether to open direct talks on Ukraine at their June 18 and 19 summit, but only after a ceasefire. A draft of the conclusions suggests a special envoy mandate is still a long way off, which is diplomatic language for “not yet, and don’t hold your breath.”

Separately, right-wing MEP Charlie Weimers says the bloc has entered an “era of deportations” after a deal on what is being billed as the EU’s strictest migration law, including return hubs outside the bloc.

In crime and policing

Authorities have found a tunnel under the U.S.-Mexico border between Tijuana and San Diego that was allegedly used to smuggle drugs and weapons. The investigation is now focused on who built it, who used it, and how long it had been operating under everyone’s feet.

In Scotland, a court has heard that former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell used false accounting and fake invoices to conceal embezzlement from the party. Prosecutors say some of the money went on more than £23,000 of luxury stationery and a £3,000 robotic lawnmower.

Kemi Badenoch has also called the killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak a “Stephen Lawrence moment” for British policing after bodycam footage and details of his treatment by police were released. She rejected comparisons with George Floyd, said Britain is not institutionally racist, and argued that police guidance and the law need to be reviewed.

In business and tech

Bitcoin fell more than 4.9% in the past 24 hours, trading around $69,393, as long-time crypto bulls started selling. The market’s favorite religion is having a rough week.

HPE said its latest quarter was a record, with revenue up 40% from a year ago to $10.7 billion, helped by networking and AI systems orders. The company says the $14 billion Juniper acquisition is paying off, and investors liked the sound of that.

In sports

Odell Beckham Jr. is back with the New York Giants, signing after a workout with team officials. It reunites him with the team that drafted him 12 years ago and adds another veteran receiver to the group.

Separately, longtime basketball coach Rick Adelman has died at 79. The cause of death has not been released.

In tech and security

Researchers say a three-inch titanium pressure vessel has passed crush testing for full-ocean-depth use, a compact design meant for small underwater vehicles and sensors that need to survive more than 600 atmospheres without turning into expensive scrap. The real trick is not just the metal, but the sealing points and cable penetrators, where tiny machining errors can sink the whole project.

Separately, ports and undersea cables are getting new protection systems that use AI and drones, including Fincantieri’s DEEP system. And Meta says hackers used its AI support chatbot to break into high-profile Instagram accounts, including the Obama White House account, before the company patched the flaw. A helpful chatbot, in a rare twist, was not helpful.

In Europe

Russia launched an overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine, hitting Dnipro, Kyiv, and Kharkiv and killing at least nine people, with dozens more injured. In Italy, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck offshore and was felt across much of the south, in an area already known for frequent seismic activity.

In the Middle East and Central Asia

Kazakhstan says it is willing to store Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium if a nuclear deal is reached, in an attempt to move stalled U.S.-Iran talks forward. The plan has also been backed by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.

Meanwhile, satellite analysis says Iranian strikes on 20 U.S. bases damaged or destroyed dozens of jets and other aircraft, with losses running into the billions of dollars.

In U.S. politics and defense

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly blocked at least seven Navy officers from promotion to one-star admiral, including two women and two Black men. Four current and former defense officials say the move cut across the military’s merit-based promotion system.

In courts

Vickrum Digwa has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing university student Henry Nowak to death. Prosecutors said Digwa was weapons-obsessed and had falsely claimed self-defense, while new court details showed Nowak had captured a Snapchat exchange with him hours before the attack.

In business

BP has kept senior independent director Dame Amanda Blanc in charge of the search for a new chair, despite investor concern after Albert Manifold’s sudden departure. Shareholders may not love the sequel, but the board has decided to run it anyway.

In U.S. politics and courts

The Trump administration has unveiled a new Medicaid rule adding work requirements for eligibility, a move patient groups are already condemning. Separately, a federal appeals court ruled the administration’s ban on active transgender troops unconstitutional, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the fight may head to the Supreme Court. A federal judge in Georgia was also reportedly privately reprimanded after an investigation into an alleged relationship with an Atlanta police official and inappropriate conduct in chambers. Even the bench has office drama.

In Ukraine

Russian air raids hit Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv overnight, killing at least five people and wounding dozens, according to Ukrainian authorities. Officials said apartment buildings were among the targets, and in Dnipro four people were killed and 16 injured, with homes damaged and a children’s playground destroyed.

In Britain

London commuters are facing major disruption after last-minute talks failed to stop planned Tube strikes. RMT members are set to walk out for two 24-hour periods on Tuesday and Thursday after negotiations with Transport for London broke down.

In South Korea

South Korean police say they are investigating hundreds of election-related crime cases, with arrests and referrals now spreading across multiple regions. In Seoul, police say 304 cases are under investigation, while in Gyeonggi province 33 suspects have been referred to prosecutors and 476 more are being examined ahead of the June 3 vote.

In brief

Cyprus is pressing Labour for assurances over the use of British military bases on the island, worried about a future Reform UK government and possible U.S. operations from those sites. In South Jersey, crews are still searching for a 14-year-old swimmer who went missing during a class trip to Wildwood. And in Florida, a toll booth worker was killed when a pickup truck slammed into a Daytona Beach Shores access ramp booth.

In U.S. politics

Democrats are still standing by Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, even after fresh reports about sexual messages he allegedly sent to several women and earlier fallout over offensive Reddit posts and a Nazi-symbol tattoo. Bernie Sanders also said he is not backing away from his endorsement, while party strategists privately seem to be bracing for a very messy general election.

In New Jersey

About 60 people rallied at the statehouse in Trenton over Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s response to protests outside Delaney Hall, the federal immigration detention center in Newark. The demonstrations have led to clashes with ICE agents and state police, and after Saturday’s violence, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed a 9 p.m. curfew near the facility.

In the Middle East

President Trump reportedly clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Monday call over Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon. According to Axios, Trump called Netanyahu “crazy,” accused him of ingratitude, and shouted at him during the exchange. Diplomatic subtlety remains in short supply.

In business and energy

Starz has named longtime Disney executive Jim Kapenstein as its new chief legal and strategy officer. He starts next week and will report to CEO Jeffrey Hirsch, with responsibility for the company’s legal affairs and strategic direction.

Separately, new research says the UK’s net zero economy is now worth more than £100 billion a year and supports more than a million jobs, with nearly half a trillion pounds in investment in the pipeline. The study also says the sector is linked to higher wages and wider regional benefits.

In science and defense

U.S. Special Operations Command is set to begin fielding the MK24 Medium Range Gas Gun Assault rifle before the end of the fiscal year. The weapon can switch between 7.62mm NATO and 6.5mm Creedmoor in about a minute, and SOCOM says it is meant to replace the MK17 SCAR under a 10-year, $92 million contract with LMT Defense.

In South Korea, researchers say they improved a key reaction used in fuel cells and metal-air batteries by changing the electric environment around the catalyst instead of redesigning the catalyst itself. In tests, the desired reaction pathway rose from about 12% to as much as 52%, which could help reduce energy losses in future clean-energy systems.

In Kenya

Hundreds of residents in central Kenya marched against a proposed U.S.-run field hospital for U.S. citizens exposed to Ebola. The plan has clearly landed badly with the local public.