China has banned four New Zealand members of parliament from entering China for one year because they visited Taiwan. This is the first time China has imposed such a ban on New Zealand MPs, who have long visited Taiwan despite New Zealand’s One China policy.
Key Facts
Four New Zealand MPs visited Taiwan in May and met Taiwan’s foreign minister.
China announced a one-year travel ban on these MPs but said it might lift the ban if they apologize.
The ban surprised New Zealand’s foreign minister, as official visits to Taiwan have happened before.
New Zealand recognizes only Beijing under its One China policy but maintains exchanges with Taiwan.
New Zealand officials are talking with China to understand why this action was taken.
Taiwan’s government sees the New Zealand MPs’ visit as support and friendship.
China has previously sanctioned US lawmakers for visiting Taiwan, similar to its action against New Zealand MPs.
Taiwan faces diplomatic pressure from China, including restrictions and objections to its international visits.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire after meetings facilitated by the United States. The agreement requires a full stop to Hezbollah attacks and the removal of its fighters from a specific area in southern Lebanon.
Key Facts
The U.S. held a three-way meeting with Israel and Lebanon to discuss the ceasefire.
President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hezbollah representatives about stopping the fighting.
Despite the agreement, some armed clashes occurred on Monday evening, including Israel intercepting projectiles from Lebanon.
Israel conducted strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut before the ceasefire announcement.
The State Department said the ceasefire demands Hezbollah end firing and leave the South Litani Sector in Lebanon.
The three countries agreed future relations should be decided by Israel and Lebanon themselves.
The parties involved criticized Iran for attacks and actions that destabilize the Middle East.
Israel and Lebanon had been under a ceasefire since mid-April before recent tensions resumed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to renew a ceasefire if Hezbollah stops attacks and withdraws from parts of southern Lebanon. The deal, supported by the U.S., aims to reduce fighting and create zones controlled solely by the Lebanese military to improve stability.
Key Facts
Israel, Lebanon, and the U.S. announced the ceasefire deal on Wednesday.
Hezbollah must stop attacks and evacuate certain areas in southern Lebanon for the ceasefire to hold.
Lebanon plans to set up “pilot zones” where only its military will operate, without other armed groups.
The ceasefire talks happened in Washington, with more negotiations planned in about three weeks.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has caused over 3,000 deaths in Lebanon and dozens in Israel since March.
More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the conflict.
The conflict affects broader U.S.-Iran negotiations over peace and Iran's nuclear program.
President Trump has urged both Israel and Lebanon to stop fighting and reach a peaceful solution.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have increased significantly in the past 24 hours. Iran launched an attack on a civilian area at Kuwait airport, marking one of the most intense escalations since a ceasefire began.
Key Facts
Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has intensified recently.
Iran targeted a civilian zone at Kuwait airport, not just military sites.
This attack is unusual compared to past actions, which mostly involved military targets.
The ceasefire agreement between the two sides is currently fragile.
The situation is causing concern about further escalation in the region.
CBS News reported the developments with analysis from a national security expert.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In northern Nigeria, many women and girls leave school early due to poverty, early marriage, and cultural beliefs. The Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE) in Sokoto helps women return to school by offering free education and a shorter curriculum. This second-chance education supports women in gaining skills and improving their lives despite ongoing social challenges.
Key Facts
Many girls in northern Nigeria drop out of school because of poverty and early marriage.
Over half of the girls in the region do not attend school, according to UNICEF.
The Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE) was founded in 1997 to help adult women learn new skills and continue their education.
WCCE offers a three-year primary program and three years each for junior and senior secondary education.
Students at WCCE take official exams at the end of their studies, like the Junior and Senior School Certificate exams.
Education at WCCE is free, supported by the Sokoto state government, but students still pay for books and transport.
Cultural norms often prioritize boys’ education and household duties for girls, making it harder for women to return to school.
Women who return to education through programs like WCCE can gain jobs such as teaching and nursing, helping address skill shortages.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Germany failed to get a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council, losing to Portugal and Austria. German officials said Russia opposed Germany’s bid because of its support for Ukraine, and Germany’s stance on Israel may have also affected votes.
Key Facts
Germany competed for one of two two-year seats on the UN Security Council for the Western European and Others Group.
Portugal received 134 votes, Austria 131, and Germany 104 votes in the election.
Germany’s foreign minister said Russia actively worked against Germany’s bid.
Germany has taken firm positions supporting Ukraine and Israel, which some countries did not support.
There are five permanent UN Security Council members; Germany was seeking one of the 10 temporary seats.
The seat loss is seen as a setback for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who wants to raise Germany’s global role.
Merz stated Germany will keep supporting the UN and the international system despite the result.
Other countries elected to the council include Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
North Korea revealed a new nuclear facility intended to make fuel for nuclear bombs. Leader Kim Jong Un said the country plans to rapidly increase its nuclear weapons capability.
Key Facts
North Korea opened a facility that likely enriches uranium for nuclear weapons.
The facility uses advanced technology but exact details like location or operation start date were not shared.
Kim Jong Un visited the facility and discussed plans to greatly expand nuclear forces.
He cited rising threats from the United States and South Korea as reasons to increase nuclear weapons.
North Korea claims its production of weapons-grade nuclear materials has more than doubled in five years.
This is the second such uranium enrichment plant publicly revealed since 2024.
South Korean officials say North Korea operates four enrichment plants running daily.
The international community has noted a rapid increase in North Korea’s nuclear activities and imposed sanctions linked to funding its programs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
North Korea showed a new facility that seems to make fuel for nuclear weapons. Leader Kim Jong Un said the country will grow its nuclear forces very quickly because of threats he mentions from the U.S. and South Korea.
Key Facts
North Korea revealed a new plant believed to enrich uranium for nuclear bombs.
Leader Kim Jong Un visited the plant and promised rapid growth of their nuclear weapons.
The plant uses advanced technology, but its location and start date were not shared.
Photos show a large room filled with centrifuges, machines used to process uranium.
Kim says the production of weapons-grade nuclear material has more than doubled in five years.
This new facility comes after North Korea revealed another uranium plant in 2024.
North Korea has several uranium enrichment sites operating daily, as reported by South Korea.
The country has focused on expanding its nuclear weapons since talks with President Trump ended in 2019.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to renew their ceasefire and set up special security zones inside Lebanon where Hezbollah militants are not allowed. The Lebanese army will take control of these zones, aiming to reduce fighting and move toward a lasting peace agreement.
Key Facts
Israel and Lebanon renewed their fragile ceasefire after U.S.-mediated talks.
The ceasefire depends on Hezbollah stopping all attacks and leaving areas south of the Litani River.
The agreement calls for the Lebanese army to fully control new "pilot" security zones inside Lebanon.
Hezbollah is banned from operating in these new security zones.
The talks did not include Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.
The statement said the future relationship between Israel and Lebanon should be decided only by their governments.
The agreement aims to help move toward a comprehensive peace and security deal.
The agreement rejects any outside force controlling Lebanon’s future, a reference to Iran’s involvement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
NASA will end its MAVEN mission after losing contact with the spacecraft for six months. MAVEN, launched in 2014 to study Mars' atmosphere, operated for over ten years before going silent in December 2025.
Key Facts
MAVEN stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution.
The spacecraft entered orbit around Mars in 2014.
The original mission was planned for 1-2 years, but MAVEN lasted more than a decade.
Contact with MAVEN was lost in December 2025 and remained silent for six months.
NASA believes the spacecraft is still orbiting Mars but cannot communicate with it.
MAVEN helped scientists learn about atmospheric escape, which is when gases leave a planet’s atmosphere.
The probe also acted as a communication relay between Earth and Mars surface robots.
Other Mars orbiters will now take over communication duties.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new report says that if fighting in Iran causes long-lasting problems in energy supplies, it could hurt the world economy badly. Many countries might go into recession, and more people could lose their jobs.
Key Facts
The report was released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday.
It focuses on the effects of the war in Iran on global energy supplies.
A long disruption in energy would make the global economy weaker.
Many countries could face recessions, which means their economies would shrink.
Unemployment rates could rise as a result of these economic difficulties.
The report emphasizes the serious global impact if energy flow is interrupted for a long time.
Iran’s conflict is the main cause of these potential energy problems affecting many countries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Activists in London attempted to put up a statue of Marwan Barghouti in Parliament Square. The police stopped them from doing this. Barghouti is a Palestinian leader who has been in an Israeli prison since 2002.
Key Facts
Activists wanted to place a statue of Marwan Barghouti in London’s Parliament Square.
The police prevented the statue from being installed.
Marwan Barghouti is a Palestinian political figure.
He is often called the ‘Palestinian Mandela’.
Barghouti has been imprisoned by Israel since 2002.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A dog owner, Tabitha Doepel, accidentally left her dog outside for a several hours early one morning while very tired from a long workweek. The dog, Wednesday, was caught on security camera crying to be let back inside. The owner felt bad but later gave the dog many treats and said the dog quickly forgave her.
Key Facts
Tabitha Doepel was very sleep-deprived after working seven days in a row.
Her dog, Wednesday, a pit bull mix, begged to go outside at 3 a.m. and she let her out.
Doepel then went back to bed and forgot the dog was outside.
Wednesday was outside alone, crying and trying to get back in until Doepel’s husband heard her at 6 a.m. and let her in.
The dog’s cries were caught on a security camera, which Doepel shared on TikTok.
Doepel felt guilty but said it was a mistake caused by exhaustion.
Experts note that lack of sleep can affect memory and attention, which may explain the error.
After the incident, Doepel gave the dog many treats and said Wednesday remains well cared for with multiple beds and good food.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A special team from the U.S. Coast Guard is searching the waters near the Sea of Abaco in the Bahamas. They are looking for evidence related to Lynette Hooker, a mother from Michigan who is missing.
Key Facts
The Coast Guard team includes trained divers and investigators.
Their search area is the Sea of Abaco in the Bahamas.
Lynette Hooker is a missing mother from Michigan.
The search is part of an ongoing investigation to find clues or evidence.
CBS News is reporting on this effort, with Cristian Benavides providing coverage.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new drug called mirvetuximab soravtansine is now available on the NHS for ovarian cancer patients. This drug targets cancer cells directly, causing fewer side effects and helping patients live longer and feel better than with traditional chemotherapy.
Key Facts
The drug is designed to deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, reducing harm to the rest of the body.
It is known as a "biological missile" or "Trojan horse" therapy because it uses antibodies to target specific cancer cell markers.
Mirvetuximab extends average survival time from 12.8 months to 16.5 months for patients with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer.
About 400 patients a year in England could benefit from this treatment.
The therapy has fewer side effects, allowing patients to keep their hair and have more energy.
The drug is given by infusion every three weeks, compared to weekly chemotherapy sessions.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the drug for ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancers that have the correct markers and no longer respond to chemotherapy.
NHS England will fund the treatment, with other UK nations following similar or their own rules.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a full ceasefire that depends on Hezbollah stopping its attacks and pulling back its forces south of the Litani River. A joint statement from the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon confirmed this agreement, but it is not yet clear if Hezbollah will accept these conditions.
Key Facts
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a full ceasefire.
The ceasefire depends on Hezbollah stopping attacks.
Hezbollah must also withdraw its forces from south of the Litani River.
The agreement was announced by the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon together.
Hezbollah has said it would agree to a full ceasefire before, but details are still uncertain.
It is not confirmed if Hezbollah will accept the terms set by Israel and Lebanon.
The situation is still developing and may change.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump wants to handle talks about the conflict in Lebanon separately from negotiations about the war between the US and Iran. He has asked Israel to stop attacking Lebanon, but attacks continue, making it harder to reach an agreement with Iran, which says the two issues must be discussed together.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump aims to separate discussions on the Lebanon conflict from talks on the US-Iran war.
He has urged Israel to stop attacks on Lebanon.
Attacks in southern Lebanon are ongoing despite these requests.
Iran considers the Lebanon conflict and US-Iran war negotiations as linked and inseparable.
Continued attacks in Lebanon complicate progress in talks with Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iran's foreign minister said talks to end the Middle East war have made no real progress after recent strikes by the US and Iran. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the negotiations might lead to a deal soon, possibly over the weekend.
Key Facts
Iran’s foreign minister said there is no real progress in peace talks despite ongoing negotiations.
Recent violence includes an Iranian drone strike on Kuwait International Airport, killing one person and wounding 63.
President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the talks and hopes for a breakthrough soon.
Trump wants to separate peace talks about the Lebanon-Israel conflict from those between the US and Iran.
Iranian officials warn that an Israeli attack on Beirut could restart the war on a large scale.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s nuclear materials are a key issue in the talks.
Washington demands Iran reduce its nuclear activities, hand over enriched uranium, and keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil shipping.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied attacking Kuwait airport and blamed US missile defenses for the incident.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Staying informed here is free for everyone. If it's worth something to you, pay what you want. Supporters also get the daily digest by email every morning.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to continue their ceasefire and to set up special security zones in Lebanon where Hezbollah fighters will not be allowed. The two countries are holding US-mediated talks and plan to meet again in June to work toward a full peace and security agreement.
Key Facts
Israel and Lebanon renewed a fragile ceasefire agreement.
They plan to create "pilot" security zones in Lebanon that Hezbollah militants must leave.
The Lebanese army will have exclusive control over these zones, excluding non-state groups like Hezbollah.
The ceasefire depends on Hezbollah stopping all attacks and leaving areas south of the Litani River.
Lebanon and Israel do not have formal diplomatic ties but are engaging in talks mediated by the US.
The next round of talks on political and security issues is set for the week of June 22.
Iran supports Hezbollah and wants Israeli attacks on Lebanon to stop, linking this to broader conflicts.
President Donald Trump supports separating peace talks between Lebanon-Israel and the US-Iran conflicts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kuwait shared video footage that it says shows an Iranian drone hitting Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport. The strike caused one death, many injuries, and damaged the terminal. Iran's military group had blamed a US missile for the damage.
Key Facts
Kuwait released security camera footage of the attack at its international airport.
The footage shows a drone strike on Terminal 1.
One person died and dozens were hurt in the attack.
The airport terminal was badly damaged.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said a US Patriot missile caused the damage.
Kuwait disagrees and says the footage proves Iran was responsible.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
