International News Bulletin — May 25, 2026

Politics

• Trump faces bipartisan criticism over draft Iran deal – The US president is under fire from both Republicans and Democrats as a proposed agreement to wind down the Iran war would reopen the Strait of Hormuz but leave Tehran’s nuclear program largely intact. Iran has not officially confirmed the terms, and state media have contradicted parts of Trump’s social-media announcement.
• Russian hypersonic strike kills two in Kyiv – At least two people were killed and 77 wounded in an overnight Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, which Ukrainian officials say included the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile. The strike marks one of the most significant escalations of 2026.
• Trump and Xi to meet in Beijing this week – With the Iran conflict drifting into a phase of “blockade diplomacy,” Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold talks in Beijing on trade, energy and the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting follows last week’s Putin–Xi summit, where Moscow and Beijing signed more than 40 cooperation agreements.
• India and Pakistan reopen Indus Waters Treaty talks – Delhi and Islamabad have resumed discussions on the long-suspended cross-border water-sharing treaty, after months of high tensions over Kashmir. A negotiated framework could ease one of South Asia’s most chronic flashpoints.
• 1.5 million pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj – More than 1.5 million Muslims have reached Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage, set against a fragile regional ceasefire. Saudi authorities have stepped up heat-illness measures after deadly temperatures during previous Hajj seasons.

Economy

• US markets closed for Memorial Day – Wall Street is shut on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day, with trading set to resume Tuesday. Investors are positioning ahead of remarks from incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, expected to be sworn in this week.
• European Commission cuts eurozone growth forecast – Brussels has downgraded its 2026 GDP growth projection for the eurozone to 0.9%, from 1.4% in 2025, while revising inflation up to 3% from 1.9%. Officials cite higher energy prices and weaker external demand as the main drags.
• Brent crude expected above $100 for the rest of 2026 – Forecasters now see Dated Brent staying above US$100 a barrel through year-end, with the IEA projecting a Q2 supply contraction of roughly 1.5 million barrels per day. It would be the sharpest quarterly drop since the COVID-19 shock.
• China and Russia deepen economic alignment – Following Vladimir Putin’s May 19–20 visit to Beijing, China and Russia signed more than 40 agreements spanning trade, energy, technology and media. The package further insulates both economies from Western sanctions and tightens their non-dollar trade flows.
• Kevin Warsh set to take oath as Fed chair – Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh is expected to be sworn in as chairman of the Federal Reserve this week, with markets sensitive to any early signal on the path of interest rates and the central bank’s posture on persistent inflation.

World News

• Africa races to contain spreading Ebola outbreak – Health authorities are scrambling to control a fast-moving Ebola outbreak that has spilled from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo into Uganda and is threatening up to 10 countries. The WHO has urged accelerated vaccination and cross-border surveillance.
• Measles death toll climbs in Bangladesh – Bangladesh has now recorded 528 measles deaths, with children making up the vast majority of fatalities. Officials are racing to expand catch-up immunization as the outbreak strains already overstretched health services.
• China launches Shenzhou 23 with year-long mission – China has launched three astronauts aboard Shenzhou 23 to its Tiangong space station, with one crew member set to remain in orbit for a full year to study human adaptation to long-duration spaceflight. The mission is a key step toward Beijing’s longer-term crewed exploration plans.
• Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier collapses at record pace – Scientists report that the Hektoria Glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula has retreated 15 miles in just 15 months, setting a modern record for grounded ice loss. Researchers warn the collapse offers a stark preview of what accelerated polar warming can unleash.
• New deep-sea species found near the Galápagos – A small blue octopus discovered nearly 6,000 feet below the surface near the Galápagos Islands has been confirmed as a new species, underscoring how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored. The find adds to a wave of recent biodiversity discoveries in the eastern Pacific.

Bulletin automatically generated on May 25, 2026.