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Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
The UK experienced a record-breaking early May heatwave, with temperatures rising rapidly, sometimes by 10°C in two days. Climate experts say such fast temperature spikes happen more often now due to warmer base temperatures, drier land, and certain weather patterns bringing hot air from southern Europe.
Key Facts
Temperatures in the UK hit 35.1°C during an early May heatwave, breaking records.
Temperature rises of up to 10°C in two days were observed, which is faster than usual.
The UK’s hottest days are warming about twice as fast as average days compared to past decades.
Days with temperatures 5°C above average have doubled, and days 10°C above average have quadrupled since 1961-1990.
Drier soil heats up faster and is linked to more frequent droughts in the UK.
Large high-pressure systems (blocking highs) create dry, sinking air that heats up more intensely than before.
South or south-easterly winds bring warmer air from southern Europe and North Africa, increasing heatwaves in the UK.
Climate change is causing European regions, especially in the south, to warm roughly twice as fast as the global average.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces currently control about 60 percent of the territory, and this move goes against the ceasefire agreement made in October 2025.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Netanyahu gave an order for the military to seize 70 percent of Gaza.
Israeli forces now control roughly 60 percent of the Gaza Strip.
This action breaks the ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.
The Gaza Strip is a Palestinian territory.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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The United States and Iran have agreed in principle to a 60-day ceasefire and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement is waiting for approval from President Donald Trump and Iran’s leaders.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Iran have reached a tentative deal for a 60-day ceasefire.
The deal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway.
The agreement is not final and needs approval from both countries' leaders.
President Donald Trump will decide whether to accept the deal.
Iranian leaders also must approve the memorandum of understanding before it takes effect.
The ceasefire comes amid ongoing peace talks between the two nations.
The U.S. sources confirmed the information on a Thursday.
The Strait of Hormuz is important for global shipping and oil transport.
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A UK public inquiry heard that allegations of war crimes by SAS troops in Afghanistan were not reported to military police out of fear that investigations would harm morale and disrupt operations. Instead, an internal review was completed quickly and cleared the troops, but serious concerns about unlawful killings remained.
Key Facts
The SAS faced allegations of war crimes during operations in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2013, including killing civilians and children.
A former top UK Special Forces officer said allegations were not referred to the Royal Military Police in 2011 due to concerns over morale and operational disruption.
The internal review was led by an officer close to the SAS unit under suspicion and found no criminal wrongdoing within a week.
British military law requires commanders to report suspected war crimes to military police, but this was not followed.
Evidence included reports of detainees being shot dead and higher civilian deaths than weapons recovered, suggesting possible unlawful killings.
Concerns also came from whistleblowers, Afghan special forces, and an international organization monitoring the conflict.
Afghan forces sometimes refused to fight alongside the SAS due to these alleged actions.
The inquiry is ongoing and examines the UK military’s handling of these serious allegations.
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Five pro-Palestinian activists from the UK, Spain, Ireland, and Germany are on trial in Germany. They are accused of damaging about €1 million worth of property at the German site of an Israeli defense company and being part of a criminal organization linked to Palestine Action Germany.
Key Facts
The trial is happening at a high-security court in Stuttgart-Stammheim prison.
The activists have been in pre-trial detention since September 2024.
They are charged with property destruction and membership in a criminal organization.
Prosecutors claim Palestine Action Germany is a criminal group focused on serious crimes.
Defence lawyers argue the main crime is property damage and that charges are too harsh.
The group broke into Elbit Systems' facility and damaged computers and equipment.
The activists showed political slogans during the incident and used Hamas symbols, which Germany bans as terrorism.
The case raises debate about how Germany treats political protests and the use of certain criminal laws against activists.
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Iran’s football team has not received US visas in time to train properly for the World Cup. The team had to move its training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, instead of Tucson, Arizona, because of visa delays.
Key Facts
Iran’s football players have not yet gotten US visas needed for the World Cup.
The Iranian team moved their training camp from Tucson (US) to Tijuana (Mexico) near the US border.
Iran will play World Cup group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico criticized the US for not fulfilling visa responsibilities.
Iranian officials visited the Tijuana training stadium and met local security officials.
The ambassador said the team cannot prepare equally compared to other teams due to visa issues.
Iran’s World Cup games are scheduled against New Zealand (June 15), Belgium (June 21), and Egypt (June 26).
The ambassador linked the issue partly to tensions due to the US-Israel war on Iran that started on February 28.
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The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has killed over 200 people, can still be stopped. He urged armed groups to declare a ceasefire to help health workers fight the disease and announced that medical aid is arriving in the affected areas.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has caused 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths as of May 24, 2026.
Over 1,000 cases of Ebola, confirmed and suspected, have been reported since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026.
The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province in eastern DRC, an area affected by ongoing conflict and violence.
Dr. Tedros called on armed groups in the region to stop fighting to allow better access for health and aid workers.
No vaccine or treatment exists yet for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for this outbreak.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention expects a vaccine and medicine against the Bundibugyo Ebola strain by the end of 2026.
The WHO has delivered 4.6 tonnes of aid to the city of Bunia in Ituri province.
UNICEF is sending 100 tonnes of aid to support the response to the outbreak.
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The United States and Iran have reached a tentative deal to extend a ceasefire in their recent conflict by 60 days. The agreement aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and create a basis for further talks about Iran’s nuclear program.
Key Facts
The ceasefire started three months ago and is currently fragile.
The deal would extend the ceasefire by two more months.
The Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for global oil transport, would be reopened.
The agreement is not yet finalized but the negotiators are close to completing it.
The deal includes plans for broader discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities.
U.S. sources provided information about the tentative agreement.
Both countries have been working actively on this memorandum of understanding.
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An American lawyer representing many victims of Jeffrey Epstein says that women with information about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor do not trust the UK police to handle their claims properly. Some women fear publicity and media intrusion, so they avoid cooperating with the UK authorities.
Key Facts
The lawyer, Brad Edwards, represents multiple clients who have information about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor but do not want to speak to UK police.
Clients fear poor treatment by UK authorities and media harassment.
One client alleges she was sent to the UK for a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor in 2010.
Thames Valley Police are assessing claims and have contacted the clients’ legal teams.
A previous allegation by Virginia Giuffre claims she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor; she settled a civil case in 2022 and died last year.
Mountbatten-Windsor denies any wrongdoing and denying personal gain from his trade envoy role.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
UK police said they will treat anyone coming forward with care, compassion, and respect.
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The UK government will start using AI facial recognition technology next year to estimate the age of asylum seekers. This tool aims to identify adults pretending to be children in order to get easier access to support.
Key Facts
A software company was hired to develop and test AI technology that estimates age by analyzing photos at the UK border.
The Home Office says the technology helps find adults falsely claiming to be children.
In the past year, over 6,400 migrants claiming to be children were assessed; 43% were found to be adults.
Current age assessments include interviews, document checks, and scans, but mistakes have been made, mistaking adults for children and vice versa.
The AI tool will be a new support method for border officers and will be trialed at Dover in mid-2027.
The government believes this technology is the most cost-effective way to assess age in asylum cases.
Human Rights Watch criticized the plan, calling the technology "unproven" and warning it could harm vulnerable children.
The contract for the AI system will cost £322,000 over three years and is awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd.
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A new study has found that rising global temperatures are causing extreme heat in Mecca, making the annual hajj pilgrimage more dangerous for millions of people. Due to climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions, temperatures of 40°C (104°F) now happen even outside summer months, and by the end of the century, dangerous heat could affect almost all pilgrimages unless fossil fuel use is greatly reduced.
Key Facts
The climate in Mecca has changed, causing more frequent extreme heat during hajj, even in months like May.
40°C temperatures are now common in May, whereas before they occurred mainly in summer.
Over 1,300 pilgrims died from heat and humidity during the 2024 hajj, which was held in June.
Hajj involves walking outdoors for five days and is required for all Muslims able to do so.
Saudi Arabia relies heavily on oil and has been slow to take strong climate action.
Saudi authorities have introduced measures like shaded paths, cooling stations, and medical support to help pilgrims.
Scientists warn that without reducing fossil fuel use, hajj will become unsafe almost year-round.
The Islamic lunar calendar causes hajj dates to move through all seasons over about 33 years, increasing the risk of heat exposure as global temperatures rise.
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The former Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, raised strong concerns about British special forces killing Afghan civilians during operations against the Taliban. A public inquiry revealed that Afghan soldiers became reluctant to work with British forces due to these concerns, and some tactics used by the SAS may have increased violence instead of reducing it.
Key Facts
Afghan president Hamid Karzai complained to NATO about civilian deaths caused by British special forces.
Afghan partner forces stopped cooperating with British special forces by spring 2011.
Evidence came from a British special forces officer who reviewed tactics that led to civilian deaths.
A tactic involving Afghan men being separated during raids often led to them being killed, sometimes without finding weapons.
The tactic intended to reduce violence ended up increasing military actions and tensions.
Pressure to reduce British soldier deaths after many were killed in 2009-2010 influenced these tactics.
The inquiry into these events started in December 2022 and is ongoing, with many hearings held in private.
Allegations include Afghan men being killed while sleeping next to children and claims of a policy to kill all males on target regardless of threat.
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Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. and Iran are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would extend a ceasefire by 60 days, reopen a key shipping route, and start talks on limiting Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump has not yet approved the deal and is waiting a few days before deciding.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Iran have agreed on a 60-day MOU to extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The MOU would also begin negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program limits.
President Trump wants time to ensure Iran will fully commit before signing the agreement.
U.S. officials say Iranian negotiators have the necessary approvals to sign the deal.
President Trump spoke with Qatar’s Emir, a mediator, about the deal.
Vice President Vance led past talks with Iran and is involved in the current negotiations.
Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed the deal yet.
President Trump is monitoring the political response before making a final decision.
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Vice President Vance said the U.S. and Iran have made significant progress in their talks, but it is uncertain if President Trump will approve an agreement. Iran denied that any deal has been reached. Meanwhile, there have been recent military clashes between the U.S. and Iran, including Iran firing a missile toward Kuwait.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance mentioned progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations.
It is unclear if President Trump will sign any deal.
Iran stated no agreement has been finalized.
The U.S. and Iranian militaries exchanged fire recently.
Iran launched a ballistic missile targeting Kuwait.
The situation remains tense despite negotiation efforts.
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Rescuers are trying to reach four climbers who fell on Mount McKinley in Alaska. The climbers’ condition is not yet known, and rescuers are waiting for better weather to fly in by helicopter.
Key Facts
Four climbers fell near Denali Pass on Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest mountain.
The fall happened at about 18,200 feet (5,547 meters) elevation.
The four climbers are part of a seven-person group; the other three went back to camp.
The climbers returned to their camp located at about 17,000 feet (5,181 meters).
Mount McKinley is about 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) tall.
Weather is improving, which may allow helicopter rescue soon.
The park service reported a separate helicopter evacuation of two climbers the previous day.
Climbing season on Mount McKinley typically runs from late April to mid-July.
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An Austrian court convicted a 21-year-old man named Beran A. for planning a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. The plot involved knives and homemade explosives and was linked to the Islamic State group. Authorities canceled Swift's August 2024 concerts in Vienna because of the threat.
Key Facts
Beran A., a 21-year-old Austrian, was found guilty of planning an attack on Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a court in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
The planned attack involved knives and homemade bombs targeting people outside the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The concert was canceled by authorities to prevent harm to attendees.
Beran A. had contacts with the Islamic State group and planned attacks in multiple countries during Ramadan 2024.
Two other men, Arda K. and Hasan E., were also involved in related terror plots; Arda K. was sentenced to 12 years in Austria.
Bomb-making materials were found in Beran A.’s apartment shortly before the planned concert date.
Taylor Swift expressed sadness and fear after the shows were canceled.
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The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway involved in a current conflict after Iran closed it at the start of the war. American reporter Reza Sayah has been given a rare chance to visit and report from the area both on land and at sea.
Key Facts
The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for shipping and energy transport.
Iran closed the Strait at the beginning of the war.
This closure has made the Strait a central point in the conflict.
Few American journalists have visited the area during this time.
Reporter Reza Sayah is currently reporting from the Strait on both land and water.
The report gives a closer view of the situation in this important waterway.
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A novel called Taiwan Travelogue, which tells a story about forbidden love and Taiwanese food, has won the International Booker Prize. It is the first book translated from Mandarin Chinese to receive this award.
Key Facts
Taiwan Travelogue is a novel about love and Taiwanese cuisine.
It won the International Booker Prize this year.
This is the first time a novel translated from Mandarin Chinese has won the prize.
The author of the book is Yang Shuang-zi.
BBC Chinese interviewed the author and explored the food inspirations behind the story.
The Booker Prize is a prestigious international award for fiction.
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Muslims in India celebrated Eid al-Adha with group prayers and gatherings across the country. The events were mostly peaceful but took place under heavy security due to rising tensions over limits on public prayers.
Key Facts
Eid al-Adha is an important Muslim festival celebrated with prayers and gatherings.
Muslims in India held mass prayers nationwide for Eid al-Adha.
There were restrictions on public Eid prayers in some areas.
The celebrations were peaceful despite these limits.
Security measures were increased to manage tensions between communities.
Anti-Muslim sentiments have been growing in some parts of India.
The government imposed rules to control public religious gatherings during the festival.
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U.S. and Iranian negotiators are trying to extend their current ceasefire and start talks on a long-term deal. Neither President Donald Trump nor Iran’s leaders have yet approved any final agreement.
Key Facts
U.S. and Iran are negotiating to extend a ceasefire currently in place.
They aim to begin discussions on a long-term agreement after extending the ceasefire.
No final approval has been given by President Donald Trump.
Iranian leaders also have not yet approved any agreement.
The talks are ongoing and being closely followed by international observers.
The ceasefire and possible deal relate to reducing conflict or tensions between the two countries.
CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan reported on the situation.
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