World
Israeli airstrikes killed nine people in southern Lebanon on Wednesday as Hezbollah fired rockets across the border, straining a partial ceasefire that was agreed just two days earlier. The escalation marks the most serious breach of the truce since it took effect Monday, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Hezbollah said its rocket attacks were retaliation for Israeli strikes on villages near the border. The United Nations called for an immediate return to the ceasefire terms.
BBC News
Politics
The Trump administration has appeared to retreat from its proposed $1.8 billion fund to fight 'weaponization' of government after facing unusual opposition from Republican lawmakers. Sen. Chuck Schumer outlined a Democratic plan to force Republican votes on the fund, which critics said would politicize law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The reversal marks a rare instance of the administration bending to congressional pressure from its own party.
NBC News
Business
The Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all Brazilian imports, citing unfair trade practices by the South American nation. The proposed measure would affect billions of dollars in trade between the two countries, including agricultural products, steel, and manufactured goods. Brazil's government condemned the move and warned of retaliatory measures. The announcement sent Brazilian markets lower and raised concerns about a trade war in the Western Hemisphere.
CNBC
Technology
Microsoft announced its second-generation Majorana 2 quantum chip is 1,000 times more reliable than its predecessor, with qubits that now survive 20 seconds compared to milliseconds before. The company says it will have a commercially useful quantum computer by 2029. However, skeptics note the paper has not been peer-reviewed and Microsoft retracted a similar 2018 Nature paper. The company is in the final stage of a DARPA validation program that could provide independent verification.
BBC News
Science
Scientists have discovered viable yeast strains in the remains of Ötzi the Iceman, the 5,300-year-old mummy found frozen in the Alps in 1991. Researchers extracted live yeasts from Ötzi's gut microbiome and successfully revived them in the lab. The finding provides new insights into the diet, food preservation techniques, and gut health of Copper Age humans. The yeasts may also have potential applications in modern brewing and baking.
Science News
Sports
Liverpool are in advanced talks with Andoni Iraola to become the club's new head coach after sacking Arne Slot, who had won the Premier League title just one season ago. The former Bournemouth manager is the clear favorite for the role, with Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes leading the hiring process after working with Iraola at Bournemouth. The club wants a manager who delivers front-foot, aggressive football and aims to make a quick appointment.
BBC Sport
Health
A five-year follow-up study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that a combination immunotherapy treatment sustained a 49% reduction in melanoma recurrence among patients with advanced skin cancer. The treatment, which combines two checkpoint inhibitors, was more effective than either drug alone. Researchers say the results provide the strongest evidence yet for long-term use of combination immunotherapy in high-risk melanoma patients.
Medical News Today
Environment
Portugal recorded its hottest May day in history as a dangerous heatwave swept across western Europe, with temperatures exceeding 43°C in some areas. Red alerts were issued in Italy and southern France, while French students took exams in baking-hot classrooms without air conditioning. Scientists said the extreme temperatures were caused by a combination of a heat dome and human-caused climate change, with records being not just broken but smashed across the continent.
BBC News