Middle East & Iran
Trump Dismisses Iran Truce Plan, Says Ceasefire on “Life Support” President Trump called Iran’s peace proposal “totally unacceptable” and said the fragile ceasefire was on “life support.” India’s leader urged residents to cut back on purchases and travel amid the economic fallout. Oil prices surged past $100 as markets reacted. — New York Times · Read — CNBC · Read — Guardian · Read
Iran Warns It Could Enrich Uranium to Weapons Grade If Attacked Senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei said in a social media post that Iran could enrich uranium to 90% and that parliament would review such a move. Iran has also expanded its operational definition of the Strait of Hormuz far beyond its traditional boundaries. — Guardian · Read
EU Sanctions Israeli Settlers Over West Bank Violence European Union foreign ministers agreed to new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians, after a change of government in Hungary ended months of blockage. The bloc also moved to sanction Hamas leaders. Israel condemned the sanctions as baseless. — France 24 · Read
Israeli Knesset Approves Special Tribunal with Death Penalty for Oct. 7 Attackers Israeli lawmakers voted 93-0 to establish a livestreamed special military tribunal with the power to sentence to death Palestinians convicted of participating in the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. — Guardian · Read
US-China & Trade
Trump Heads to China for State Visit and High-Stakes Talks with Xi President Trump departs for Beijing for a state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid a tentative trade truce. Trade deals and agreements on agricultural purchases or Boeing aircraft are anticipated, but tensions over Iran, Taiwan, and global supply chains remain complicating factors. More than a dozen U.S. executives are joining the trip, though Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is notably absent. — NPR · Read — CNBC · Read — CNBC · Read — Guardian · Read
United Kingdom
Starmer Defies Calls to Resign, Tells Cabinet He Will Fight On Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet he will not quit unless a formal leadership challenge is triggered, after dozens of Labour MPs urged him to step down following heavy local election losses. Cabinet ministers rallied around him. Allies of Andy Burnham warned against a “coronation” for Wes Streeting as successor. — Guardian · Read — New York Times · Read — France 24 · Read
UK Borrowing Costs Hit Highest Since 1998 Amid Starmer Uncertainty Long-term UK bond yields soared to the highest level in almost three decades and the pound fell against the dollar as investors worried about potential changes to Labour’s tax and spending plans, before dropping back as cabinet rallied around Starmer. — Guardian · Read
Global Health: Hantavirus
WHO Urges Countries to Prepare for More Hantavirus Cases WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned countries to prepare for more cases after the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak that killed three passengers. Nearly two dozen countries are now repatriating citizens who were aboard. France has recorded its first case and says it is following health guidelines “to a tee.” — Guardian · Read — New York Times · Read — France 24 · Read — France 24 · Read
Europe
Three-Day Ceasefire Ends with Fresh Russian Attacks on Ukraine At least one person was killed as Moscow launched drone strikes on energy facilities after a three-day ceasefire expired. — Guardian · Read
European Ministers to Discuss Sending Rejected Asylum Seekers to Third-Country Hubs The Council of Europe will meet in Moldova on Friday to discuss plans to send thousands of rejected asylum seekers to third-country processing hubs, with the human rights body expected to recognise countries’ right to control borders. — Guardian · Read
EU Chief Von der Leyen Says Social Media Access for Children Must Be Delayed Ursula von der Leyen told an EU summit that an expert panel would propose steps to protect minors online by July. — BBC · Read
United States
Democrats Express ‘Grave Concerns’ Over Secretive ICE Deportation Flights Forty House Democrats demanded the FAA address allegations of mistreatment and inhumane conditions on ICE charter jets, following a Guardian investigation into irregular deportation transport methods. — Guardian · Read
US Workers Overwhelmingly Support Union-Backed AI Policies More than nine out of ten workers surveyed expressed support for pro-worker AI policies and view labor unions as the most reliable protectors from AI’s effects, according to a new AFL-CIO poll. — Guardian · Read
US in Closely Guarded Talks to Open New Bases in Greenland Washington is seeking to open three military bases in southern Greenland, according to multiple officials familiar with the talks. — BBC · Read
Africa
Uganda’s Museveni Sworn In for Record Seventh Term President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was inaugurated after winning disputed January elections, extending his 40-year rule. — BBC · Read
France Meets African Leaders in Kenya to Move Beyond Colonial Ties In a first since France-Africa summits began in the 1970s, Paris hosted the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya — reflecting a shift away from traditional neo-colonial frameworks. — BBC · Read
Australia
Australia Federal Budget 2026: Labor Announces ‘Historic’ Savings Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the federal budget, claiming historic savings while environment groups criticised cuts to nature and science funding. Aukus submarine agency funding will jump to A$512 million next financial year. — Guardian · Read — Guardian · Read
Markets & Finance
Oil Tops $100 as Trump Comments Diminish Iran Peace Deal Hopes U.S. crude oil prices surged past $100 amid concerns over a prolonged Middle East conflict after Trump’s “life support” comments about the Iran ceasefire. — CNBC · Read
Stock Futures Slip Ahead of Inflation Reading S&P 500 futures fell 0.4% as traders awaited a CPI report expected to show headline inflation of 3.7% year-over-year, while monitoring Iran war developments. — CNBC · Read — Bloomberg · Read
eBay Rejects GameStop’s $56 Billion Takeover Bid eBay called the offer “neither credible nor attractive,” with analysts questioning how GameStop would finance the deal and its strategic rationale. — CNBC · Read
Hims & Hers Swings to $92 Million Loss After Weight Loss Drug Pivot The telehealth company posted a net loss of $92 million in Q1 as its shift away from compounded weight loss drugs drove up costs. — Quartz · Read
Waymo Recalls Nearly 3,800 Robotaxis Over Flood-Steering Software Flaw The recall follows an April incident in San Antonio where an unoccupied Waymo vehicle drove into a flooded lane during extreme weather. — Quartz · Read
1999 or 1997? Analysts Debate Whether AI Boom Parallels Dot-Com Peak Both bulls and bears are drawing comparisons to the late 1990s tech bubble, though one dot-com survivor argues the AI build-out is more like 1997 and still advises holding more cash. — CNBC · Read — MarketWatch · Read
Security
BBC Unmasks Key People Smuggler Behind Most Small Boat Crossings A 28-year-old Iraqi Kurd operating under the alias “Kardo Ranya” has been identified as a key figure in the smuggling network behind most English Channel small boat crossings. — BBC · Read
All stories sourced from RSS feeds fetched at 07:01 CST on May 12, 2026. No information has been added beyond what appeared in the feed entries.