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July 17, 2026 --
ENTERTAINMENT: Odysseus’ ten-year journey home (Graphic DUE Jul 3, 16:00GMT)
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June 1, 2026 -- Wealth alone does not guarantee children’s well-being, with many rich countries witnessing declines in children’s life satisfaction, mental health and academic proficiency since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Growing up in a wealthy country with abundant resources does not necessarily guarantee a happy and healthy childhood.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, children in some of the most affluent countries experienced significant declines in their academic performance, mental well-being and physical health.
To that end, UNICEF’s Innocenti Report Card 19 presents a league table that ranks countries on how they are doing on key aspects of child well-being.
SOCIETY: Child well-being ranked (Graphic DUE Jun 1, 15:00GMT)
GN48071 Graphic ranks child well-being in OECD and EU countries.
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June 1, 2026 -- Ukrainian drones have struck targets across several Russian regions overnight, in what appears to be the latest long-range attack on Moscow’s vital oil industry.
Ukraine’s General Staff said it had struck the Saratov oil refinery on the Volga River, causing a large fire. Saratov regional governor Roman Busargin said on Telegram that “civil infrastructure” had been damaged in the strike, but gave no more details.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said it had downed 216 drones overnight.
Kyiv said it had also struck the Lazarevo pumping station in the Kirov region, northeast of Moscow and around 1,300km from Ukrainian-held territory.
CONFLICT: Ukraine expands long-range drone strikes (Graphic)
GN48070 Graphic shows recent long-range strikes by Ukraine against Russian energy sites.
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June 21, 2026 -- A leftist senator and a rightwing populist outsider who admires Donald Trump will go to a run-off presidential election on June 21 after no candidate won outright in the first round of voting on May 31.
Millionaire businessman Abelardo de la Espriella, who calls himself “El Tigre”, won 43.7% of the vote, while Iván Cepeda, a long-time senator, human rights activist and son of a murdered communist leader, received just under 41%, according to official results from the national registry office.
The two candidates were separated by less than two percentage points in a race dominated by concerns over security, the economy and populist policies.
The campaign was marred by violence, including drone attacks, kidnappings and homicides, and unfolded in the shadow of last year's assassination of a presidential candidate at a campaign rally.
POLITICS: Colombian presidential run-off (Graphic)
GN48069 Graphic shows Colombian presidential candidates heading to run-off.
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May 29, 2026 -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he directed Israel’s military to increase control of Gaza, initially by seizing 70% of the Palestinian territory.
Israel effectively controls an estimated 64% of the tiny coastal Strip, bombarded to ruins by Israel’s two-year military assault that followed the 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel.
Under an October U.S.-brokered truce that has failed to halt Israeli attacks or secure Hamas’ disarmament, Israeli troops were meant to withdraw to a “Yellow Line” demarcating the extent of their control. Marked on military maps, that line put Israel in control of some 53% of Gaza, with Hamas ruling the rest.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said in public remarks that the military controls more than 60% of Gaza. Speaking to a conference in a settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli leader said even more of Gaza would be taken.
“We were at fifty, we moved to sixty. My directive is to move to – let’s go step by step,” Netanyahu said on Thursday.
“First of all, seventy. Let’s start with that. We’re pressing them (Hamas) from all sides. We’ll deal with the remnants.”
CONFLICT: Israel to increase control of Gaza to 70% (Graphic)
GN48066 Graphic shows area of Israel’s expansion into Gaza.
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May 29, 2026 -- The White House is pushing Congress to approve a $250 bill bearing President Trump’s face, a move that would require changing federal law barring living people from appearing on U.S. currency.
Federal law bars printing U.S. money with the image of a living person, but Trump allies in Congress have introduced legislation that would make an exception.
A Trump banknote would mark the latest effort by the president and his allies to place his name and image on public symbols since his return to the White House in 2025. Trump’s signature is already set to appear on U.S. paper notes as part of celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
In March, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved a commemorative gold coin bearing Trump’s image. Other initiatives include adding Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center, placing his portrait on U.S. passports, and repainting Air Force One in colours favoured by the president.
The largest U.S. bill currently printed is the $100 note, which features founding father Benjamin Franklin.
TRUMP 2.0: Trump could appear on new $250 bill (Graphic)
GN48067 Graphic shows what the new $250 bill will look like.
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June 12, 2026 -- At its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on June 12, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is aiming to raise $75 billion – the biggest IPO of all time – and with a potential valuation of over $2 trillion, eclipsing Aramco’s $1.7tn in 2017.
An IPO of this scale could have a potentially huge impact on capital markets, of the kind not seen since the antitrust efforts that broke up the Standard Oil monopoly in 1911, drawing liquidity from the system and affecting many other companies, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to file for their own IPOs later this year.
While SpaceX had annual revenue of $19.3 billion, $11.4bn from Starlink, a valuation of $2 trillion would give it a price-to-sales ratio over 100, far in excess of the S&P 500 average of around 4.7, but below that of other satellite rivals. However, the most surprising figure in the SpaceX filing is the total addressable market of $28.5 trillion, the “largest TAM in human history”, $22.7 trillion of which is related to xAI, running orbital AI data centres.
BUSINESS: SpaceX to launch biggest ever IPO (Graphic)
GN48065 Graphic shows details of SpaceX IPO
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May 28, 2026 -- The U.S. has carried out new strikes against Iran, prompting an apparent retaliatory Iranian attack on a U.S. airbase in Kuwait and raising fears over a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
It marks the second time in three days that the U.S. has struck targets inside Iran, with Washington saying the operations were conducted in self-defence.
Meanwhile, Israel launched wide-ranging strikes in Lebanon and declared a large area in the south a new combat zone, as fighting intensified on multiple fronts across the region.
Israel began its war against Iran, alongside the U.S., on February 28, while also remaining engaged in conflict with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned he could resume a large-scale bombing campaign unless Iran agrees to his terms.
CONFLICT: U.S. and Iran exchange new strikes (Graphic)
GN48064 Graphic shows conflict flashpoints in Iran and Lebanon.
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May 27, 2026 -- Americans have grown weary of the Iran war, especially since gasoline prices jumped 50%, worsening the financial strain they already faced courtesy of President Trump’s fiscal policies, such as import tariffs.
The American public has had enough of the Iran war, a war they didn't like to begin with, and one which has seen gasoline prices soar some 50%, adding to the financial burdens they must carry due to President Trump’s fiscal policies.
A recent poll by Fox News – let's not forget that this is a pro-Trump, pro-Republican network – makes for devastating reading.
Of more than a thousand registered voters polled, 60% oppose his war on Iran, 91% blame the war on soaring gasoline prices, 71% disapprove of his handling of the economy and overall, 61% disapprove of his entire presidency.
POLITICS: U.S. voters want out of Iran war (Graphic)
GN48061 Graphic charts poll data regarding the presidency of Donald Trump.
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May 27, 2026 -- The World Health Organisation has warned that the Ebola outbreak is spreading faster in the Democratic Republic of Congo than health workers can contain it.
Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, health officials in the DRC have reported more than 1,000 cases of the disease, of which 105 were confirmed, and 233 deaths.
The WHO has upgraded its national risk assessment from high to very high, and neighbouring countries – including Uganda, where seven cases and one death have been confirmed – are at especially high risk.
HEALTH: Ebola outbreak spreads in DR Congo (Graphic)
GN48059 Graphic shows Ebola situation as of May 26.
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May 26, 2026 -- U.S. President Donald Trump, who turns 80 on June 14 and is the oldest person ever inaugurated, has been dogged by questions about his fitness for the job since taking office for a second term in 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who will turn 80 next month, recently underwent his annual physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center amid ongoing public scrutiny surrounding his health.
Trump has often portrayed himself as more energetic and physically fitter than Joe Biden was during his presidency. However, recent photos showing a rash on his neck have fuelled further speculation about his condition, especially as earlier images from last year appeared to show him with swollen ankles and bruising on his hands.
TRUMP 2.0: Fears grow over Trump’s health (Graphic)
GN48058 Graphic shows ailments plaguing President Donald Trump.
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May 31, 2026 -- Voters face a choice between sharply different visions for Colombia’s economy and security, in an election seen as a key test of whether the right-wing wave across Latin America is continuing or fading.
The leading candidates include Iván Cepeda, a 63-year-old left-wing senator and human rights advocate allied with President Gustavo Petro. Cepeda has pledged to continue Petro’s social reform agenda, focusing on reducing inequality and advancing peace talks with armed groups.
On the right is Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old millionaire lawyer known as “El Tigre”. He is campaigning on a hardline approach to crime and drug trafficking, promising to end negotiations with armed groups, lower taxes and encourage private investment in mining and energy.
Also among the frontrunners is conservative senator Paloma Valencia, 48, who is campaigning alongside her political mentor, former president Álvaro Uribe. Valencia supports expanding the armed forces, shrinking the size of government, promoting business and cutting taxes.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes on May 31, a runoff election will be held on June 21.
POLITICS: Colombian presidential candidates (Graphic)
GN48057 Graphic shows leading Colombian presidential candidates.
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May 26, 2026 -- The U.S. says it launched new strikes on southern Iran in “self-defense”, targeting Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to place mines.
The strikes were designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
Iran is yet to respond to the U.S. attack. However, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai earlier said that while some progress had been made in talks to end the war, a deal “is not imminent”.
It is unclear what impact the strikes will have on any potential peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
Following the strikes, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal was still possible and pointed to talks on Tuesday between Iran’s top negotiator and foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister.
CONFLICT: U.S. strikes southern Iran (Graphic)
GN48056 Graphic shows area of U.S. strikes in southern Iran.
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May 22, 2026 -- Alberta will hold a referendum on whether the oil-rich province should remain in Canada or pursue a binding independence vote, marking the country’s most significant test of unity in decades.
Support for Alberta independence has grown in recent years, driven by a long-standing belief among some residents that the province is overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa, particularly on issues related to natural resource development.
The western province, home to about four million people, has long clashed with the federal government over energy policy.
Recent polls suggest that up to 30 percent of Albertans would support seceding from Canada.
The provincial referendum has been scheduled for 19 October.
POLITICS: Alberta independence referendum (Graphic)
GN48055 Graphic shows a map of Canada highlighting Alberta and key statistics about the province and Canada.
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May 22, 2026 -- The stalemate continues in the Persian Gulf as Iran reaffirms and widens its stated control area in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that it will charge a toll for vessels to guarantee safe passage.
Iran has widened the area around the Strait of Hormuz that it says falls under its military jurisdiction, in a move aimed at reinforcing its claim over the vital shipping corridor.
A map released by the newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) shows Iran’s armed forces overseeing more than 22,000 square kilometres (8,800 square miles) of the strategically important waterway.
According to the authority, any vessel passing through the strait must obtain approval and coordinate with the PGSA.
The United States and its Gulf allies have consistently opposed Iran’s efforts to exert authority over the strait, with Washington advising ships to disregard Tehran’s directives.
CONFLICT: Iran expands Strait of Hormuz claim (Graphic)
GN48054 Graphic shows Iran’s claim to the Strait of Hormuz.
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June 1-30, 2026 -- Events next month include the G7 leaders’ summit in France, the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup, SpaceX’s planned record-breaking IPO, the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum and Pope Leo’s trip to Spain. Japan’s central bank may raise interest rates, local elections in South Korea will test support for President Lee Jae Myung, and Hollywood will celebrate the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth.
Jun 1, U.S.: Hollywood celebrates the centenary of the birth of Norma Jeane Mortenson, better known as Marilyn Monroe
Jun 3, South Korea: Martial law scandal looms large over local elections that will test support for President Lee Jae Myung’s ruling party after last year's snap election
Jun 6-12, Spain: During his visit Pope Leo XIV will inaugurate the main tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, which also coincides with the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudi’s death
Jun 11, North America: FIFA World Cup kicks off, jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, the first time it is hosted by three countries
Jun 12, U.S.: SpaceX plans a record-breaking IPO that could become the largest stock market debut in Wall Street history and make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire
Jun 15-17, France: President Emmanuel Macron hosts the G7 leaders’ summit amid rising tensions between the U.S. president and many G7 members over the war with Iran and broader foreign-policy disagreements
Jun 15, Japan: Central bank monetary policy meeting considers an increase in interest rates to calm inflation fears, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opposes further hikes stemming from the conflict in the Middle East
Jun 23, UK: On the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, political opinion remains deeply divided, though polling shows a clear majority of Britons regret leaving the EU
WORLD AGENDA: June 2026 (Graphic)
GN48050 Graphic shows selected news events in June 2026.
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May 21, 2026 -- The U.S. was the only major economy to substantially increase coal-fired electricity generation in 2025, the burning of which is a key contributor to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
Although more coal power capacity was built and brought online in 2025, global coal use actually declined, according to a new report from think tank Ember.
The study finds that the U.S. stands out as the only major economy to significantly increase coal-fired electricity generation.
Coal remains one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, making its phaseout essential for limiting climate change.
At the same time, the falling cost and wider availability of renewable energy means that solar and wind are increasingly able to meet rising electricity demand across much of the world.
In the U.S., however, the rise in coal use has been driven by policies under Donald Trump that favour fossil fuel production and consumption.
Trump has repeatedly dismissed climate change, describing it as a “hoax” and a “con job.”
ENERGY: U.S. bucks trend with soaring coal power (Graphic)
GN48053 Graphic charts U.S. coal-powered electricity generation compared to other countries.
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May 21, 2026 -- U.S. murder charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro brother of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, mark a major escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist government.
The indictment accuses Castro and several former Cuban military officials of involvement in the 1996 shoot down of two civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue, which killed four people.
Criminal charges against a former foreign head of state are highly unusual and reflect the increasingly aggressive approach the Trump administration has taken toward Latin America.
The tougher U.S. stance has become closely associated with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028. Rubio has played a leading role in shaping the administration’s hardline policy toward Cuba and other leftist governments in the region.
Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has tightened sanctions on Cuba and threatened penalties against countries supplying the island with fuel.
At the same time the indictment was announced, U.S. Southern Command confirmed that the USS Nimitz had entered the Caribbean, a deployment likely to increase tensions between Washington and Havana.
POLITICS: U.S. charges Cuba’s Raúl Castro with murder (Graphic)
GN48052 The graphic shows the location of the 1996 shootdown of the two planes and includes a brief profile of Raúl Castro.
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May 20, 2026 -- Democrats are beginning to lay the groundwork for possible 2028 presidential bids, with the contours of the primary race likely to come into focus after the November 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats are already positioning themselves as potential candidates in the 2028 presidential campaign, signalling a wide-open race with no clear frontrunner to succeed Republican President Donald Trump.
Governors, senators and former candidates have begun visiting key early-voting states, building donor networks and releasing books – all familiar moves for politicians preparing for a White House bid against the eventual Republican nominee to replace President Trump, who is serving his second and final term in office.
While no candidate has officially launched a campaign for the November 2028 election, early manoeuvring is underway, with the shape of the Democratic primary field expected to become clearer after the November 2026 midterm elections.
POLITICS: Democratic presidential contenders (Graphic)
GN48051 Graphic shows the most likely candidates to run for the Democratic presidential nomination ahead of the 2028 election.
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May 20, 2026 -- Indonesia's defence minister says he signed a letter of intent with his U.S. counterpart to grant airspace access to the U.S. military, but no formal commitment was made.
The letter of intent signed last month in Washington mentioned respecting each country’s territorial integrity, the need for a mechanism if Indonesia agreed to airspace access, and respect for local laws, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told a parliamentary hearing.
The issue of overflight access created controversy in Indonesia last month. The foreign ministry warned the defence ministry that the proposal to give the U.S. military “blanket” permission to fly over Indonesian territory could risk entangling Jakarta in potential South China Sea conflicts, Reuters reported.
MILITARY: Indonesia-U.S. airspace deal (Graphic)
GN48049 Graphic shows details of Indonesian airspace access.
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May 19, 2026 -- Embattled Prime Minister Starmer will likely face a leadership challenge from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting – a politician who has openly decried Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake” and who would champion its reversal.
After Keir Starmer became prime minister, many hoped Britain and the European Union would rebuild ties after Brexit.
But instead of stability, the UK has grown more politically divided, with Labour losing support in local elections, the Greens gaining ground, and Nigel Farage’s combative Reform party surging ahead on an anti-immigration agenda.
Now, from Europe’s point of view, Britain looks increasingly unstable – making closer relations with the EU harder, not easier.
Add to this a likely upcoming prime minister leadership challenge from pro-Europe former Health Secretary Wes Streeting – who describes Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake” – and a favourable appetite to rejoin the EU by 55% of UK voters, and things are looking decidedly muddled.
POLITICS: Could UK reverse Brexit? (Graphic)
GN48042 Graphic charts British public opinion on hypothetically rejoining the EU.
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May 19, 2026 -- As Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, he hopes energy turmoil from the Middle East conflict will make China more flexible in talks over the planned Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project.
The long-delayed gas pipeline project remains high on the agenda during the leaders’ meetings, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
“The project is on the agenda, and we’re committed to discussing it seriously,” Ushakov said, according to Bloomberg. “I believe this topic will be discussed in great detail between the leaders.”
Russia is seeking to strengthen its case for the pipeline as concerns over potential energy supply disruptions tied to the conflict involving Iran unsettle global markets. Analysts say Moscow hopes the instability will encourage Beijing to secure additional long-term gas supplies through Russia.
China, however, is expected to maintain its broader energy diversification strategy. Industry experts in Beijing say Chinese officials are likely to continue pursuing supply agreements with both Turkmenistan and Russia rather than relying heavily on a single source.
ENERGY: Power of Siberia 2 pipeline (Graphic)
GN48047 Graphic shows current and proposed pipelines supplying China.
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May 19, 2026 -- As Russia reportedly prepares for a major summer offensive in Ukraine, battlefield data suggests that Kremlin forces are losing ground for the first time since 2024.
Russia is suffering problems in its war against Ukraine that partly stem from a growing Ukrainian military strength: the use of medium-range drone attacks.
By targeting Russian air defences and logistics dozens of kilometres behind front lines, Ukraine is disrupting Russia’s battlefield advances and opening the way for long-range strikes on Russian oil and military facilities.
Last month, Ukraine managed to liberate more land than Russia seized – the first time Moscow suffered a net loss of territory since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into the southern Russian Kursk region, according to analysis from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War.
CONFLICT: Russia losing ground in Ukraine war (Graphic)
GN48043 Graphic shows details of Russian territorial gains in Ukraine.
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May 29, 2024 -- Global executions jumped to their highest level since 1981 in 2025, pushed in part by a “staggering” increase in Iran’s use of the death penalty, Amnesty International says.
The rights group said it had recorded at least 2,707 executions worldwide last year, with Iran accounting for 2,159 of them – more than twice the number reported there in 2024.
Amnesty said the global total did not include the thousands of people it believes were executed in China, citing a lack of available data because of state secrecy. China is widely regarded as the world’s biggest user of the death penalty.
The sharp rise in executions was also driven by increases in countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Yemen, Singapore and the United States, Amnesty said.
The 2025 figure marked an increase of more than two-thirds compared with the previous year.
AMNESTY: Executions hit highest level in four decades (Graphic)
GN48041 Graphic shows number of executions in 2025.
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May 18, 2026 -- The World Health Organisation has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern.
The agency said the outbreak in DR Congo’s eastern Ituri province, which has seen more than 300 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency.
But it warned it could potentially be “a much larger outbreak” than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant risk of local and regional spread.
The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency said, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines.
Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache and sore throat, and are followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and bleeding, the BBC said.
HEALTH: Ebola outbreak in DR Congo (Graphic)
GN48039 Graphic shows details of Ebola and current outbreak.
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May 15, 2026 -- NASA has published a dazzling new image of our Milky Way galaxy showing confirmed and candidate exoplanets, courtesy of its TESS space telescope, launched in 2018.
NASA has released a striking new image of the Milky Way, highlighting both confirmed and potential exoplanets, captured using its Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) space telescope, which was launched in 2018.
Although scientists had long suspected that planets exist beyond our solar system, the first exoplanets were not confirmed until the mid-1990s.
More recently, NASA has reported that missions such as TESS have helped confirm over 6,000 exoplanets, and astronomers now estimate that there is at least one planet orbiting every star we can see in the night sky.
TESS in particular is generating a wealth of discoveries, identifying planets of many sizes – from small, Mercury-like worlds to giant planets larger than Jupiter.
Some of these exoplanets lie within the habitable zones of their respective solar systems, where conditions could allow liquid water to exist – a key factor in the search for life beyond Earth.
SPACE: NASA maps 6,000 alien planets (1) (Graphic UPDATED May 16)
GN48037 Graphic shows NASA’s new exoplanet star map, explaining what it means.
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May 15, 2026 -- Russia and Ukraine exchange 205 prisoners of war each under a U.S.-brokered agreement linked to an earlier ceasefire, even after Moscow launched the largest two-day aerial assault of the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the swap was the first stage of a larger agreement under which both sides would release 1,000 prisoners each.
Many of the freed Ukrainian troops had been captured during the siege of Mariupol in 2022.
Prisoner exchanges remain one of the few tangible outcomes of U.S.-led peace efforts, while broader negotiations to end the war have stalled despite a May 9-11 ceasefire.
Hours after the truce ended, Russia launched its largest sustained aerial assault of the war, firing more than 1,600 drones and missiles at Ukraine and killing more than 30 people in Kyiv and other cities.
CONFLICT: Russia, Ukraine free prisoners after U.S. deal (Graphic)
GN48038 Graphic charts the number of daily Russian drone attacks against Ukraine over the past year.
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May 14, 2026 -- Russia is set to deploy its nuclear-capable Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the end of the year, a system President Putin has described as “the most powerful missile in the world”.
Reuters reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will enter combat service by the end of the year. The announcement came after Russia test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday as part of efforts to modernise its nuclear forces.
Putin said the Sarmat, one of several new weapons unveiled in 2018, is as powerful as the Soviet-built Voyevoda but offers greater precision. He said it was built to replace the aging Voyevoda.
According to Putin, the missile’s warhead yield is more than four times greater than any Western equivalent, and its range exceeds 35,000 km (21,750 miles). Western analysts estimated the Sarmat’s range is closer to 18,000 km.
Either range would be sufficient to reach any city in the United States from Russian territory. Moscow is about 7,500 km (4,660 miles) from New York.
MILITARY: Russia to deploy new Sarmat nuclear missile (Graphic)
GN48035 Graphic shows specifications of the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM
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May 13, 2026 -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to resign after more than 80 lawmakers in his Labour Party call on him to go.
Attention has focused on several senior Labour figures seen as potential successors, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has long been viewed as a future leadership contender.
According to The Times, Streeting is preparing to resign and could quit as early as Thursday, May 14, potentially paving the way for a formal bid for the Labour leadership.
UK: Potential challengers to Keir Starmer (1) (Graphic UPDATED May 14)
GN48034 Graphic shows favourites to replace Starmer as UK prime minister.
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May 13, 2026 -- Russia is expanding the world’s largest Shahed-style drone factory – the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) – amid a surge in weapons exports to Iran for its military.
Moscow has expanded the facility – home to Russia’s main drone manufacturing hub – by 340 hectares in the past year.
Satellite imagery shows freshly constructed hangars sprawling across the northern sector, while production facilities and residential quarters have been extended in the central complex.
A separate 450-hectare construction site has been set up just south of the SEZ. Its purpose is unknown, but a road is being built to connect it to the zone.
The drone factory, which employs teenagers, has accelerated its output of the long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which cost from £15,000 to £50,000 to produce, according to The Telegraph.
CONFLICT: Russia expands Shahed drone factory (Graphic)
GN48033 Graphic shows details of Alabuga drone factory.
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May 12, 2026 -- The U.S. is reportedly engaged in secret talks with Denmark to establish three new military bases in Greenland, just months after President Donald Trump threatened to seize the Arctic territory by force.
The planned expansion would mark the biggest increase in the U.S. military presence in Greenland in decades. The only current American installation on the island is Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance for NORAD.
U.S. officials are reportedly considering former American military sites in Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq as part of the expansion. Narsarsuaq offers a deepwater port, while Kangerlussuaq has a long runway capable of handling large military aircraft.
According to reports, American officials have also floated a proposal under which the three new bases would be formally designated as U.S. sovereign territory.
Under a 1951 defence agreement between the United States and Denmark, Washington is allowed to establish and maintain military facilities in Greenland as part of NATO’s mutual defence framework. However, any major expansion of the U.S. military presence must still be approved by the Danish government.
The negotiations are reportedly being overseen by Michael Needham, a senior State Department official tasked with crafting a deal that satisfies Trump while respecting Denmark’s red lines over sovereignty and border protection.
MILITARY: New U.S. bases in Greenland (Graphic)
GN48031 Graphic shows
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June 10, 2026 -- On June 10 in Barcelona, Pope Leo will inaugurate the soaring central tower of the famed Sagrada Família basilica to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed what is now the world’s tallest church.
The inauguration and blessing of the tower will take place during a solemn Mass presided over by the pope as part of a series of events honouring Gaudí’s artistic and spiritual legacy. Pope Leo’s trip to Spain will also include visits to Madrid and the Canary Islands.
More than 140 years after construction began, the basilica reached its full height of 172.5 metres in February last year when the final piece of the central tower was put in place. At that point, the church surpassed the height of the spire of Ulm Minster to become the tallest church in the world.
Construction of the Sagrada Família began in 1882, but Gaudí never expected to see it completed. Only one tower had been finished at the time of his death in 1926 after he was struck by a tram in Barcelona.
Despite the symbolic importance of inaugurating the Tower of Jesus, work on the basilica is still expected to continue until around 2034, with further decorative and architectural elements yet to be completed.
RELIGION: Pope Leo inaugurates Sagrada Família tower (Graphic)
GN48029 The graphic shows a cutaway of the Cross of Jesus and highlights the parts of the Sagrada Família that have been completed and those still to be built.
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June 6-12, 2026 -- Pope Leo XIV will inaugurate the main tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família during a trip to Spain that will also take him to Madrid and a migrant reception centre in the Canary Islands.
The visit will begin on June 6 in Madrid, where Pope Leo will be welcomed by King Felipe VI of Spain at the Royal Palace before presiding over a prayer vigil with young people. The following day, he will celebrate an outdoor Mass at Plaza de Cibeles.
On June 8, the pope will meet Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and address members of parliament at the Congress of Deputies. He will also lead prayers at Almudena Cathedral and join the local diocesan community at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Pope Leo will travel to Barcelona on June 9 to preside over a prayer vigil at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.
The next day, he will visit Brians 1 prison and Montserrat Abbey, where he will meet the historic Benedictine community. He will later celebrate Mass at the Sagrada Família and bless the Tower of Jesus, the basilica’s tallest structure.
The final stage of the trip, on June 11 and 12, will take the pope to the Canary Islands, with stops in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. There, he will celebrate Mass and encourage those working to assist migrants before departing for Rome.
RELIGION: Pope Leo makes landmark trip to Spain (Graphic)
GN48020 Graphic shows itinerary for Pope Leo’s trip to Spain.
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August 5, 2026 -- A massive, stray piece of a SpaceX rocket is on course to smash into the moon, highlighting the risk of space junk to the lunar surface as NASA pushes hard to return humans to our celestial neighbour.
A huge, stray piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, travelling at about 8,700km/h, is expected to crash into the moon in August and leave a crater on the lunar surface.
The upper stage booster launched in January 2025, carrying lunar landers from Firefly Aerospace and Japanese company ispace, was supposed to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere after completing deployment of the landers, but instead drifted into a long orbit that crosses the moon’s path.
Independent astronomer Bill Gray calculates that the rocket stage will strike the moon at 06:44 GMT on August 5, highlighting growing concerns about space junk as NASA and other agencies prepare for renewed lunar missions.
SPACE: Stray SpaceX rocket to hit moon (Graphic)
GN48018 Graphic shows how a SpaceX upper stage is going to crash into the moon.
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April 28, 2026 -- The shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has raised urgent questions about who would take charge had the gunman succeeded in targeting top administration officials.
The rules are set out in the U.S. Constitution and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which establish a clear order for transferring presidential authority.
If the president dies or is incapacitated, the vice president immediately takes over. In this case, JD Vance would assume the presidency and serve the remainder of Donald Trump’s term, which runs until January 2029.
If both the president and vice president were unable to serve, the role would pass to the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Next in line is the Senate’s president pro tempore, currently Chuck Grassley, a 92-year-old Republican lawmaker.
Beyond congressional leaders, the line of succession continues through Cabinet officials, beginning with the secretary of state and proceeding in order of their departments’ establishment.
To guard against a worst-case scenario, administrations designate a “survivor” for major events. This Cabinet member is kept away from the gathering to ensure continuity of government. For this event, that role was assigned to Doug Collins.
U.S.: Presidential line of succession (Graphic)
GN47977 Graphic shows order of presidential succession in the U.S.
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