Keir Starmer, the UK Labour leader, pledged to continue in his role despite significant losses for his party in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales. Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, in contrast, celebrated strong gains, winning over 400 council races.
US forces launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military facilities after Iranian attacks on three US Navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the exchange, President Trump maintains that the ceasefire remains in effect, while Iran claims the US crossed a "point of no return."
A UK Border Force officer and a retired Hong Kong police officer were found guilty of assisting a Chinese spy agency in Britain. The two men, Peter Wai and Bill Yuen, spied on Hong Kong dissidents living in the UK and senior MPs who supported them, raising serious concerns about access to sensitive information.
The man who assaulted Representative Ilhan Omar by squirting vinegar on her during a Minnesota town hall in January pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a US officer. The incident has drawn criticism and debate regarding political rhetoric.
President Trump will bring a scaled-back group of CEOs, including from Boeing and Mastercard, on his trip to Beijing next week, reflecting limited expectations for progress on tariffs and rare earths. The Iran war is expected to dominate discussions, potentially delaying progress on other issues.
A hacking group breached Canvas, an online learning platform used by 30 million students globally, causing nationwide disruptions for US universities and schools. The company has since restored services and notified the FBI of the intrusion, which occurred as finals loom.
US employers added 115,000 jobs in April, surpassing the projected gains of 65,000 and marking the first back-to-back advance in nearly a year. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%, with Treasury yields falling despite the higher-than-expected payrolls.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching a self-declared ceasefire intended for Victory Day commemorations, with both sides reporting hundreds of drone attacks. Russia had announced a unilateral truce for World War II celebrations, but Ukraine stated Moscow did not hold off on strikes.