Hantavirus Cruise Ship Crisis
Spain begins evacuating virus-hit cruise ship in Tenerife — Spanish passengers are the first to leave the MV Hondius after an outbreak that killed three people and infected several others. Medical teams in hazmat suits screened passengers before disembarkation, and an international evacuation effort is now underway with strict health protocols. Authorities stress the virus poses far less risk than COVID-19 despite growing public concern. — BBC · Guardian · France 24
Army parachutes onto remote island to help Briton with suspected hantavirus — A specialist military team parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha, a remote British overseas territory, to treat a person with suspected hantavirus. — BBC
Russia–Ukraine War
Putin suggests Ukraine war is ‘coming to an end’ — Vladimir Putin said he thinks the conflict is winding down, hours after vowing to defeat Ukraine at Moscow’s most scaled-back Victory Day parade in years. He said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe. — Guardian
‘No comment’ after Schröder named by Putin for Ukraine talks — Putin suggested that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder serve as a mediator in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations. — DW
Putin’s forces are barely inching along on the battlefield — The Russian military has yet to solve a fundamental problem: how to make big advances in eastern Ukraine when drones are everywhere. — NYT
Russian attacks continue despite ceasefire — Reports indicate Russian strikes have injured people in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions despite a ceasefire that was meant to run from May 9 to May 11. — Guardian
Iran & Middle East Tensions
Iran warns of retaliation as US tensions threaten fragile peace talks — Tensions have escalated after reports of US fire on Iranian-linked tankers in the Gulf of Oman. Tehran warned of retaliation as diplomatic efforts continue over a proposed deal involving sanctions, nuclear limits, and maritime security. — France 24
Iran military warns of ‘surprising’ methods of warfare if attacked again — Iran’s army spokesman said that if the “enemy” attacks again, they would face new methods of warfare. — Al Jazeera
Why is Iran taking time to respond to the US proposal to end the war? — Iran continues to review the US proposal, with Tehran’s nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz remaining the main sticking points. — Al Jazeera
Maersk CEO warns Iran war is a ‘new wake-up call’ for global trade — Reopening the Strait of Hormuz has become a top US and global priority, as oil executives warn the clock is ticking toward an energy and trade shock if the maritime chokepoint remains closed for another month. — ZeroHedge
Gaza
Israel deports two activists detained on board Gaza flotilla — Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila were detained by Israel after sailing in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. — BBC
The genocide is still taking Gaza’s mothers — On Mother’s Day, Al Jazeera publishes a personal account of the ongoing toll on families in Gaza. — Al Jazeera
UK Politics
Labour MP challenges ministers to trigger leadership contest as Starmer vows to fight on — Catherine West issued an ultimatum for PM Keir Starmer as ex-minister Josh Simons joined calls for the prime minister to quit following disastrous election results. — Guardian
Plaid Cymru leader hopes to become Welsh first minister by Tuesday — Rhun ap Iorwerth said he hopes other parties will back his programme for government after Plaid Cymru’s historic Senedd election victory, beating Labour and holding off Reform UK. — Guardian
US–China & Asia-Pacific
How China’s leader lost faith in his generals — Xi Jinping spent 13 years building a military to rival the United States, but the stronger Chinese forces grew, the less he trusted the generals he had handpicked to run them. — NYT
US-China rivalry reaches South American skies — The US has pressed Argentina and Chile to review two Chinese telescope projects in the Andean deserts. Astronomers are worried about setbacks to research. — NYT
Why antiwar protesters are rallying in Japan — Demonstrators oppose Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s efforts to build up military power and move the country away from its pacifist identity. — NYT
Underwater anti-mine tech and robot dogs at Chinese defence show — China unveiled advanced military technology including robot dogs and AI-enabled underwater mine-neutralising systems at the 2026 Chengdu Defence Technology Industry Expo. — SCMP
Economy & Markets
Saudi Aramco profits jump 26% despite Middle East conflict — Saudi Arabia’s state oil company reported $33.6bn in profit in Q1, with revenue rising nearly 7% to $115.5bn, as its east-west pipeline allowed it to ship oil despite regional conflict. — Guardian
Consumer sentiment hits 74-year low as wages stagnate — Heather Long, chief economist for Navy Federal Union, explains why Americans are being “literally squeezed” as consumer sentiment plummets. — Fortune
Retailers on a hiring spree despite consumer warning signs — The retail trades added nearly 22,000 jobs in April, accounting for about one-fifth of total job growth, even as consumers send warning signals. — CNBC
Memory chip makers looking at a ‘supercycle’ — Higher chip prices are boosting margin projections through 2027, with memory chip stocks jumping 30% in one week. — CNBC
Hong Kong villagers slam rushed Northern Metropolis evictions — Residents of villages in northwest Hong Kong face displacement as the government’s planned Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen development area moves forward under the Northern Metropolis megaproject. — SCMP
Also Noted
Why is being a mother so expensive in the United States? — On Mother’s Day, Al Jazeera details the high cost of motherhood in the US compared with the rest of the world. — Al Jazeera
TMZ finds its footing on the political scene — The gossip outlet is hounding politicians and tracking vacationing members of Congress from its new Washington DC bureau. — Guardian