US and Iran exchanged airstrikes, Russia drafts more ethnic minorities, Indian demolition within 15 km Pakistan border, Spain raided Socialist Party, DOJ investigates E. Jean Carroll, Xu Yao executed

The US and Iran exchanged further airstrikes near the Strait of Hormuz, throwing a fragile seven-week-old ceasefire into jeopardy. The Israeli military has designated all areas south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River as combat zones, threatening residents to flee their homes immediately as it prepares to deploy “extreme force” against Hezbollah targets. Approximately 1.6 million people are displaced across Lebanon. The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is spreading at a breakneck speed and severely outpacing global containment efforts. Russia’s draft and mobilization efforts have disproportionately impacted ethnic minorities. India has ordered the immediate demolition of all unauthorized and illegal constructions within 15 kilometers of its international border with Pakistan. The Bolivian Congress has passed a bill granting President Rodrigo Paz expanded powers to declare a state of exception. This opens the door to deploying military forces to quell intense anti-government demonstrations. Spanish anti-corruption police raided the Madrid headquarters of the governing Socialist Party (PSOE). Guatemala deployed military and police forces indefinitely to the eastern border. The US Justice Department (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation into writer E. Jean Carroll for potential perjury during her civil lawsuits against President Donald Trump. The Australian federal government has launched a $1.4 billion (AUD) lawsuit against US manufacturing giant 3M over widespread toxic contamination caused by "forever chemicals." Chinese authorities officially executed Xu Yao on May 21, 2026 for the fatal poisoning of billionaire gaming tycoon Lin Qi.