Thing

Former attorney general said expected replacement, Todd Blanche, had been in charge of controversial process. Plus: why are 80% of US consumers angry?Good morning. Appearing before the House oversight and reform committee, the former attorney general Pam Bondi told lawmakers that Todd Blanche, the man Donald Trump has lined up to replace her, was “in charge” of the US Department of Justice’s controversial handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. She also said she was “not certain of the extent” that Trump knew about the crimes of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell before they became public.In her opening statement, Bondi defended the justice department’s handling of the records under her leadership and tried to distance herself from the release and review of the files, saying she did not “lead every aspect” of the DoJ’s effort, but that it was Blanche who oversaw it. If formally nominated by Trump to be attorney general on a permanent basis, Blanche would require confirmation from the US Senate.Why is the release of the files under scrutiny? Several lawmakers as well as survivors of Epstein’s abuse, have criticized some of the department’s actions and raised concerns over certain redactions and the disclosure of sensitive personal information in the files. Bondi acknowledged “there were redaction errors” in the release, but added: “Since day one of this process, this department has been committed to accountability and transparency.”What are the latest developments in Ukraine? In his first public letter to Vladimir Putin since the 2022 invasion, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called for face-to-face negotiations. Acknowledging shifting US priorities while Washington remained focused on the Iran war, the Ukrainian president noted it would be wrong to simply wait for the Trump administration to step in. The proposal comes as Ukraine regains some battlefield leverage through improved long-range strike capabilities, even as Moscow intensifies its deadly aerial campaign across the country. Continue reading...

• Indian equities closed largely unchanged as persistent tensions in West Asia dampened investor risk appetite and caused market oscillations. • Broader markets showed resilience and outperformed despite recent corrections, signaling strength in specific segments. • Market analysts have identified 23,500 as a critical resistance level, with key support established between 23,200 and 23,300.

Lebanese government agrees ceasefire but Israeli drone strikes continue. Plus the story of the man who launched Cuba’s first independent magazineGood morning.Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire to end hostilities, the Trump administration has announced – but it comes with caveats. Not only is the deal contingent on a complete cessation of fire from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah armed group, and on the evacuation of all its fighters from the area south of the Litani River – but Hezbollah have not been part of the talks.Where has Israel been targeting? William Christou in Beirut reports that three hospitals in southern Lebanon have been attacked by Israel in under a week, wounding more than 150 people and killing nine. Analysts and human rights experts have said the attacks on healthcare facilities were aimed at degrading the conditions for life in south Lebanon.What did Israel say about it? The military said it had struck “Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Tyre” and acknowledged a hospital was “affected incidentally”. It accused Hezbollah of “taking over” one of the hospitals it struck.Is that number significant? Yes, the 90-day threshold is important because the 1973 War Powers Resolution lays down that a president must seek congressional approval to continue waging war after hostilities have continued that length of time. Trump’s White House has rejected that argument, citing a temporary ceasefire that has been in place since 8 April – although it has been broken several times by the US, Israel and Iran. Continue reading...

• NASA released observations from the James Webb Space Telescope regarding interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, captured in December 2025. • The data reveals that the comet's composition is fundamentally different from any objects previously observed within our own Solar System. • This discovery is significant as it provides rare insight into the chemical makeup of other star systems and the materials that travel between them.

• The Responsible AI Conference 2026 will take place as a one-day, practitioner-led event in London, UK, on 23 June 2026. • The event focuses on operational and compliance challenges rather than technical breakthroughs, featuring speakers from high-scrutiny organizations including HSBC, JPMorgan, BBC, and Channel 4. • This conference matters because it provides real-world insights into managing AI in sectors where regulatory failure carries significant risks.

Mixed picture emerges from races across the US, as Trump’s pick fails in Iowa. Plus: Jill Biden speaks about her husband’s decision to drop out of the 2024 electionGood morning. It has been a night of drama as crucial election results have unfolded – or not – across the US.In California, the crucial race for governor remains too close to call. With mountains of ballots left to count, the Republican Steve Hilton was leading the field with the Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer following. A quirk of the state’s political system means the top two candidates face off in the general election regardless of which party they belong to.Where else were primary elections held? In many other states. Many eyes were on Iowa, where Josh Turek, backed by millions in outside spending, clinched the state’s Democratic primary, defeating the state senator Zach Wahls, who had pitched himself as an anti-establishment outsider. On the Republican side, Randy Feenstra’s second-place finish in the gubernatorial race ended Donald Trump’s perfect endorsement streak, which had held strong since March.When will we know the full results? Voting experts say it could take weeks to finalize the tightest races.What was Pelley said to have done? In an email, the newly appointed executive editor, Nick Bilton, claimed Pelley had “hijacked my first meeting … to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt”. In a message to staff he said that after repeated, failed attempts to find common ground over the weekend, “we have parted ways with Scott Pelley”. Continue reading...

• Indian benchmark indices closed higher following a volatile session, with the Sensex gaining 382 points and the Nifty closing above 23,480. • Market sentiment was primarily lifted by late buying in heavyweight IT stocks, though investors remain cautious. • Key factors influencing upcoming stock action include monsoon progress, inflation trends, liquidity conditions, and the RBI's policy outlook.

• FIFA will host the 2026 World Cup, marking the largest tournament in the organization's history. • The event will be the first time the United States hosts the World Cup since 1994, expanding the scale of the competition. • This tournament is significant as it represents a massive growth in the global soccer landscape and a return to North American soil.

Spokesperson claims Trump administration has ‘the most transparent war department in history’ despite ban on journalists using Pentagon facility. Also, more than 1,000 Marilyn Monroes descend on Palm SpringsGood morning.In another apparent affront to press freedom from the Trump administration, journalists may no longer enter the Pentagon’s press office, which has been designated as a classified space.How have the media reacted? After the defense department announced sweeping restrictions in October, many longtime reporters refused to agree and began turning over their press passes. The department then announced a “next generation of the Pentagon press corps” featuring 60 journalists from far-right outlets. The New York Times sued the Pentagon over those policies, which designated journalists as “security risks”, and a federal judge found in the Times’s favor in March.What is making the fund controversial? The terms of the fund do not require the disclosure of how much is paid to whom. Chuck Schumer, the US Senate minority leader, said: “Trump’s nearly $2bn Maga slush fund is his most brazen act of self-dealing yet and one of the most corrupt schemes ever launched by a president.” Continue reading...

• Alphabet is planning an $80 billion capital raise to fund its artificial intelligence initiatives, with support from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. • Reports indicate that Iran has ceased sending messages to the United States through its mediator, signaling a potential breakdown in diplomatic communications. • These developments are highlighted as key drivers for global markets to monitor in the coming week.

• The benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices declined for a fourth consecutive session, driven by rising crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions. • Market breadth remained weak with bearish technical indicators, though specific stocks like Wockhardt and NMDC Steel bucked the trend to hit fresh highs. • This downward trend highlights persistent selling pressure across the broader market, impacting investor sentiment ahead of Tuesday's trading.

US says it struck Iranian military sites at the weekend, as Iran targets an airbase used by the US to attack southern IranGood morning, Martin Belam here. I will be popping into your inbox writing First Thing regularly for the next little while. Here are today’s main stories …Is this the end of the ceasefire, then? The US and Iran have sporadically exchanged strikes since their ceasefire took effect in early April, as negotiations aimed at a more durable agreement drag on. A similar exchange occurred last Thursday. The war launched by the US and Israel on 28 February has killed thousands of people – mainly in Iran and Lebanon – and caused global economic pain by pushing up energy prices.What was Comey accused of? Comey, who was indicted in North Carolina in April, faces up to 10 years in prison for a photo of seashells arranged to read “86 47.” Prosecutors allege the post constituted a threat against Donald Trump, the 47th US president. Comey denies the allegation. Continue reading...

Auction success hit a new low for the year on the last Saturday in May, with just 54.5% of homes soldFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has suggested falling auction clearance rates may be a “good thing” for first home buyers if it means they aren’t competing against as many property investors.After data was released showing home prices in Australia’s capital cities had begun to fall and buyers were abandoning auctions, Chalmers on Monday said Labor’s proposed property tax reforms weren’t the only thing slowing the housing market. Continue reading...

• Indian equity markets closed sharply lower on May 29, driven by broad-based selling, rising volatility, and MSCI-driven fund flows. • Technical indicators currently suggest a bearish bias for the markets, placing a critical focus on key support zones. • Investor sentiment for Monday's session will be heavily influenced by global cues, the current monsoon outlook, and overall market breadth.

• The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring an expanded format and various host cities across the three nations. • Initial match schedules are set for June 2026, with key fixtures including France vs Senegal and Germany vs Curacao starting on June 14. • The tournament represents a significant scale-up in international football, with broadcasting rights already allocated to networks like the BBC and ITV in the UK.

Former DUP leader’s barrister said the woman was mistaken in linking the letter to his alleged sex offencesJeffrey Donaldson told a woman who has accused him of sexual assault that he regretted inflicting “hurt, pain and distress” but his comments were not related to the allegations, a court has heard.A lawyer for the former MP and Democratic Unionist party leader told Newry crown court on Friday that Donaldson’s letter to the alleged victim had “nothing to do” with her accusations of sexual abuse and referred to other behaviour. Continue reading...

Mark Rutte says Moscow’s ‘reckless behaviour is a danger to us all’ after drone hit apartments during attack on Ukraine. Plus, Paul McCartney on how old bandmates – and Oasis – inspired his nostalgic new albumGood morning.The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, has said the alliance is “ready to defend every inch” of its territory after a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania, a member state, during an overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine.What else is happening? Sweden will donate 16 of its existing Gripen fighter jets by next year to Ukraine, which will go on to buy an initial 20 of the latest model, they announced on Thursday, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited an airbase in Uppsala, 70km (45 miles) north of Stockholm.What did Netanyahu say? The Israeli prime minister, who is struggling for his political survival before elections in the next few months, said: “We are currently squeezing Hamas. We now control 60% of the territory in the strip. You know, we were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to … 70%.” Continue reading...

• Indian equity benchmarks closed marginally lower for the second straight session, as declines in the energy, IT, and financial sectors outweighed gains in auto stocks. • Technical analysts, including Vatsal Bhuva of LKP Securities, note that the Nifty 50 recently broke out above the 23,800 congestion zone, suggesting improving market momentum. • Market experts expect the Nifty to remain range-bound for Friday's session, identifying immediate support at 23,800 and resistance between 24,000 and 24,100.

President makes comments after reports Iran and Oman have discussed jointly charging a toll for ships. Plus, how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising energy costsGood morning.In a casual aside during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Donald Trump threatened to “blow up” Oman, a US ally, if it failed to “behave” over the reopening the strait of Hormuz.What is the latest on a deal to end the war? Negotiations are continuing but the US earlier this week struck Iranian targets, reportedly killing four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which prompted an apparent Iranian retaliatory attack on an American airbase in Kuwait.What is happening inside Iran? Internet restrictions were partially lifted this week, revealing increasing anger from Iranians over rapid food price inflation.What is the humanitarian toll of the war? More than 1 million people in Lebanon have been displaced in the latest round of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in March. At least 3,213 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the start of the war, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The office of Israel’s prime minister reported that 23 Israeli soldiers and a defence contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel.What is life like inside Israel’s “yellow line”? The Guardian’s William Christou, in Kfarchouba, Lebanon, spoke to the villagers living in fear of nightly raids and daytime bombings from the Israeli military occupying their land. Continue reading...

After the initial euphoria of victory, Zoë Garbett prepares to begin running one of England’s most diverse and deprived boroughsFor the first time in decades the person sitting behind the desk in the wood-panelled office of Hackney’s imposing art deco town hall is not a Labour politician.Zoë Garbett was elected as the east London borough’s first Green party mayor in this month’s local elections, surfing a wave of support which resulted in the party winning more than 500 seats, taking control of five councils and winning two mayoralties. Continue reading...

Paxton’s win, despite his history of scandals, signals the president’s enduring grip over the state. Plus, one sex educator on why she doesn’t define sex at allGood morning.Ken Paxton, the scandal-ridden Texas attorney general who was backed by Donald Trump, beat the incumbent, John Cornyn, in the Republican primary runoff for senator, signaling how much sway the president still has in the deep red state.And Paxton’s new opponent? As a Democrat, Talarico faces long odds in Texas, but has built a groundswell of popularity through his message of peace and populism. Ahead of the primary, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, a former Democratic candidate for the Senate and a partner at Ascend Strategy Labs, a social justice consulting firm in Austin, said that “if Ken Paxton becomes the candidate, Talarico has a shot”.How much has funding declined? The WFP’s funding was cut last year by a third, with the US, the largest donor by far, decreasing its contribution by more than half.How does the US-Israel war on Iran affect famine? Most directly, it drives up food prices, mostly because of transport costs, but some aid routes have also been blocked. Continue reading...

• Stewart McLean, an actor known for his role in the series 'Virgin River', was found dead on Friday. • A friend of the actor, who had worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade, stated that McLean was not involved in anything "nefarious" prior to his passing. • The sudden death of the performer, often credited as Stew McLean, has sparked condolences from the acting community.

• Indian equity benchmarks ended lower on Tuesday, ending a three-session rally due to profit booking in the consumer, realty, and financial sectors. • Market analysts suggest that the Nifty may maintain a positive outlook as long as it remains above key support levels, despite current near-term weakness. • Broader market sentiment remains mixed, characterized by selective buying interest across various stocks.

Trump’s mass deportation campaign is accelerating the climate crisis. Plus, US students on why they booed their pro-AI graduation speakersGood morning.Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign has spurred at least an 80% increase in immigration flights year over year, accelerating the climate crisis by emitting massive amounts of carbon dioxide, according to data analysis shared exclusively with the Guardian.How much carbon is ICE emitting through deportation flights? US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) air operations pumped out an estimated 335,876 tonnes (37,0240 US tons) of carbon emissions in 2025, up 88% from the year before. The first four months of 2026 show the federal agency is on track to contribute even more to global heating this year from such flights, the Guardian can reveal.Why is Trump facing criticism from his own party over Iran? Loyalists are concerned over reports that billions of dollars in frozen assets could be made available to Tehran, with senior Republican saying the reported details of the peace deal appear too close to the nuclear deal negotiated in 2015 by the Obama administration, which Trump scrapped. Continue reading...

US president says he is not rushing into a deal after proposed plan to end war prompts Republican backlash. Plus, mood in Russia turns against PutinGood morning.Donald Trump defended himself against criticism from fellow Republicans yesterday as he appeared on the verge of agreeing a deal with Iran to end the war.What has Iran said? Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has been speaking at a news briefing about the contours of a potential deal with the US to end the war: “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion. But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent – no one can make such a claim.”Why does he think voters are becoming disenfranchised? Massie pointed to several significant constituencies – including “Make America healthy again” campaigners, fiscal hawks pushing for sweeping government budget cuts, and voters who don’t want the US engaged in wars – who he claimed had been “alienated” by the administration’s actions. “And so, I’m worried that in November, this is going to cost the party a lot.” Continue reading...

• Indian equity benchmarks, including the Nifty and Sensex, closed modestly higher on Friday, driven primarily by gains in financial stocks. • Overall market growth was limited by significant weakness in the pharma and healthcare sectors, resulting in a range-bound movement. • Analysts indicate that a decisive breakout above the 23,800 level is necessary for further upward momentum, while a drop could lead toward 23,600.

Growing numbers of people are seeking improbable cosmetic surgery based on chatbots’ recommendationsPlastic surgeons are increasingly concerned about the rise of “AI face”, as more and more clients arrive in their offices with unrealistic AI-generated visions of what they want to look like.Dr Nora Nugent, a cosmetic surgeon from Tunbridge Wells, has seen this first hand. Clients have started coming to her office with photos of themselves beautified by AI and a false expectation that those results are achievable with surgery. She is also the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and says many colleagues are having similar experiences. Continue reading...

The 192-page report does not mention Gaza or Joe Biden’s age. Plus, is the world heading for another Ebola crisis?Good morning.On Thursday, the Democratic party published a postmortem – spanning 192 pages – of its 2024 election defeat, after an initial decision to withhold the document prompted an angry backlash.What’s in the postmortem? It focuses on key demographics that Kamala Harris lost, including Latinos, men and rural voters in many states. “Harris wrote off rural America, assuming urban/suburban margins would compensate,” the report says. “The math doesn’t work.” The autopsy says that Democrats must focus less on “abstract issues and identity politics”.What does the move tell us? The cancellation, which avoided political embarrassment for Donald Trump, is the latest signal that congressional support for the US president’s war is diminishing.What happens next? The vote has been postponed until lawmakers return from a recess in June, when it appears likely that the resolution could pass. Continue reading...