May 11, 2026

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 73.

• U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday rejected Iran's response to the latest U.S. proposal for ending the Middle East war. Trump characterized the response as "totally unacceptable" and warned again of renewed hostilities if an agreement is not reached. Reports cite Iranian officials as saying today that their response included demands to end the war, lift the U.S. blockade of Iranian shipping and ports, and release frozen Iranian assets. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,535 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukraine and Russia have each accused the other of violating a U.S.-brokered temporary cease-fire that was to have lasted through today, with authorities for both sides claiming to have suffered casualties in drone and artillery strikes over the weekend. [more]
• Following Saturday's scaled-back Moscow parade to celebrate the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he thinks the Russia-Ukraine war "is coming to an end" and suggested he would be willing to negotiate a new security agreement with Europe. [more]

VIRGINIA | In a 4-3 decision announced Friday, the Virginia state Supreme Court threw out a congressional redistricting plan narrowly approved by voters last month, saying lawmakers failed to follow proper procedures in advancing the referendum that would have favored Democratic candidates for Congress in November's mid-term elections. [more]

COLORADO | Denver International Airport has returned to full operations following an incident late Friday in which a person believed to have been trespassing on airport grounds was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines plane during takeoff. The collision, which sparked an engine fire and forced passengers to evacuate the plane, remains under investigation. [more]

U.S. MILITARY | Army officials say the remains of one of two soldiers who went missing last week in Morocco were recovered over the weekend. Investigators say the soldiers were in Morocco for the annual African Lion military exercises and went missing while on a recreational hike. [more]

U.S. AND CHINA | In-depth preparations are under way for U.S. President Donald Trump's summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week in Beijing. Topics expected to headline the meeting include: trade and tariffs, artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals, the war in Iran, and the status of Taiwan. [more]

U.S. AND ISRAEL | In an interview broadcast yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wants to "draw down to zero" the financial support his country receives from the United States over the next 10 years. Reports note Israel receives about $3.8 billion in military support from the U.S. annually. [more]

GLOBAL WEATHER AND CLIMATE | In its latest monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update, the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization says rapid increases in Pacific sea-surface temperatures indicate a likely return of El Niño conditions as early as May–July 2026, and that data supports predictions of particularly strong related increases in land surface temperatures in southern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, as well as Europe and Northern Africa. [more]

HANTAVIRUS | The final passengers aboard the luxury cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak are scheduled to be removed from the ship today in Spain's Canary Islands and repatriated to their home countries. Reports say at least two people removed from the ship in recent days have since tested positive for the infection. [more]

U.K. | Saying his Labour Party is in “a battle for the soul of our nation,” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer continued today to resist calls for his resignation following last week's poor showing in local and regional elections. [more]

PAKISTAN | Authorities say at least 14 police officers were killed late Saturday in a car bomb attack on a security post in the Bannu district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. [more]

MEXICO | Community and human rights groups said yesterday that as many as 1,000 families have been forced to flee their homes in the mountainous regions of Mexico's Guerrero state in recent days amidst increased attacks against residents by the Los Ardillos cartel. [more]

INDONESIA | More than 300 foreign nationals were arrested late last week across Indonesia as part of a crackdown on alleged illegal online gambling operations in the country, according to the Indonesian National Police. Reports note that similar mass arrests related to gambling operations have taken place recently in Surabaya, Bali, and Batam. [more]

CHINA | According to government data released Friday, China's exports rose a higher-than-expected 14.1% in April, compared to the year-ago period – up from a 2.5% yearly expansion in March. Reports note that the April data showed an 11.3% increase in exports to the United States compared to the same period last year. [more]

PHILIPPINES | The Philippines' House of Representatives voted, 255-26, today to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on charges including misuse of funds and making threats against the president. Duterte will now face a trial in the country's Senate. [more]

VENEZUELA AND GUYANA | Acting President Delcy Rodríguez is scheduled to defend Venezuela's claim to the mineral- and oil-rich Essequibo region of western Guyana today before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. [more]

NIGER | Press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders claimed Saturday that the recent suspension of nine French media outlets on charges of "threatening public order and national security" by Niger's military government was a "coordinated strategy to repress press freedom." Government officials say the suspensions were necessary to "preserve peace, social cohesion, and the stability of institutions." [more]

OIL INDUSTRY | Amidst global shortages and increased prices due to the war in Iran and disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia-based Aramco, the world's largest oil company, reported a $32.5 billion profit for the quarter ended March 31 – a 25% increase from the year-ago period. Company officials say shifting its oil exports to a pipeline that runs to the Red Sea was key to maintaining its profits amidst the ongoing Middle East war. [more]

SOCCER | Barcelona clinched its second consecutive Spanish La Liga soccer championship yesterday with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "The Devil Wears Prada 2" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $43 million in receipts, followed by "Mortal Kombat II" and "Michael." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 330, Constantine I dedicated Byzantium (later Constantinople; now Istanbul) as the new capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, an act that helped transform it into a leading city of the world.  [more history]