U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and launch nuclear talks, but President Trump has not yet signed off. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says nothing moves until Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, surrenders highly enriched uranium, and renounces nuclear weapons. Tehran is calling enrichment a non-negotiable red line, with top parliamentary official Ebrahim Azizi declaring the talks at a "strategic deadlock."
The national average for regular gasoline has climbed to $4.564 per gallon, its highest level since July 2022 and a new record for 2026. The Iran war and the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz have added roughly $1.50 per gallon since fighting began in late February. California leads the country at $6.01 per gallon. Treasury Secretary Bessent says he is "optimistic" prices could fall to $3 by midsummer — if a deal with Iran comes together.
Eileen Li Wang, former mayor of Arcadia, California, pleaded guilty today to acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Chinese government. Between 2020 and 2022 she coordinated with Chinese officials to distribute pro-Beijing propaganda through a website disguised as a local Chinese-American news outlet, posting articles within minutes of receiving them from handlers. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing set for October 6.
Disney and ABC have filed their license renewal applications "under protest" after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered eight Disney-owned ABC affiliates to file early, years ahead of schedule. Disney calls the order "unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional," arguing the FCC is using bureaucratic coercion to silence editorial voices. The FCC says the review stems from an investigation into Disney's DEI hiring practices, though critics tie it to Jimmy Kimmel's controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump.
Iran launched five attack drones and a ballistic missile toward Kuwait on May 27, all of which were intercepted by U.S. and Kuwaiti forces. U.S. Central Command characterized the strike as a ceasefire violation, further complicating peace talks already teetering on the edge. Pakistan's foreign minister is meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to discuss ongoing mediation efforts.
GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler warned Wednesday at Bletchley Park that Beijing has gained advanced capabilities across intelligence, cyber, and military domains, and that the West faces a "narrowing window" to stay ahead. She called this a "moment of consequence," saying China's cyber operations are "scaled far beyond those of any other nation" and designed to "relentlessly steal British trade and technology secrets." It was GCHQ's first annual director lecture at the historic wartime codebreaking center.
Norway became the ninth member of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region on May 18, deepening cooperation on civil security, resilience, and defense in the region. The move comes as NATO ramps up its Arctic presence, with Norway hosting Cold Response exercises and participating in the alliance's new Arctic Sentry initiative — all driven by Russia's increased military activity and China's growing interest in the High North.
A University of Connecticut review of 26 clinical trials found that a single intravenous ketamine infusion significantly reduced depression in just four hours and dramatically lowered suicidal thoughts within 24 hours. Patients reported fewer symptoms for up to a week and reduced suicidal ideation for a month. Side effects including headaches, dissociation, and dizziness were temporary and resolved within hours. IV ketamine is not yet FDA-approved for depression but is used off-label.
Astronomers have discovered asteroid 2025 SC79, a skyscraper-sized space rock that completes one lap around the sun every 128 days — making it only the second known object orbiting inside Venus's path. Carnegie Science astronomer Scott Sheppard first spotted it in September 2025. The asteroid crosses Mercury's orbit on its journey and is currently hidden behind the sun, invisible to telescopes for months.
Viral bodycam footage shows a Palm Beach County deputy pulling over 36-year-old Kathleen Thomas, accusing her of holding a phone while driving. Thomas calmly raised her right arm — which ends at the elbow — and replied "Hand to God." The deputy awkwardly persisted and issued the citation anyway. The video racked up millions of views, and the department later dismissed the ticket, citing "lack of clarity" in their citation software.
