War in Ukraine
Russian strikes kill five in Ukraine before rival ceasefires
Ukraine said it would begin a ceasefire Tuesday night after Moscow announced its own Victory Day truce for later in the week, but both sides continued reporting attacks
Latest News
Read the latest verified world, politics, business, tech, culture, and local news on BetaVoices.
- Entertainment Dolly Parton cancels Las Vegas residency, says health is improving The 80-year-old country star said immune and digestive issues, along with chronic kidney stones, have left her short of being ready for the stage
- Late-season storm Colorado braces for May snow after a winter snow drought Denver, Boulder and the Rockies are forecast to see accumulating snow, with reports pointing to several inches and up to a foot near Boulder
- Automotive Nissan to shut Sunderland production line and cut 900 European jobs The carmaker says Sunderland’s two production lines will be consolidated into one, while separate talks cover wider European workforce reductions
Energy markets
Oil retreats as U.S. says Iran ceasefire still holds
Brent and U.S. crude fell Tuesday after Pentagon officials said attacks on the UAE had not crossed the threshold for renewed major combat operations
NHL
Victor Hedman says Lightning leave was for mental health
The Tampa Bay captain said he stepped away in the final weeks of the season to focus on himself, after missing 22 games including the playoffs
Transatlantic trade
Trump’s EU auto tariff threat puts Europe’s carmakers back in the crosshairs
The US president says tariffs on EU-made cars and trucks could rise from 15 percent to 25 percent, reviving a dispute over an unfinished trade deal
Copyright lawsuit
Five Publishers and Scott Turow Sue Meta and Zuckerberg
The class-action case accuses Meta and its founder and chief executive of infringing authors’ copyrights, according to a New York Times summary
Arts
Morgan Library exhibition looks beyond Mozart’s legend
The New York show explores Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through early compositions, personal objects, manuscripts, letters and instruments connected to his work
Online safety
Pornhub to restore access for some UK Apple users
Aylo says UK iPhone and iPad users who have completed Apple’s device-based age checks will be allowed back onto Pornhub’s adult content
AI and health advice
Pennsylvania sues Character AI over chatbot’s medical claims
The state alleges a chatbot told an investigator it was a licensed psychiatrist and could assess whether medication might help
Hormuz tensions
Iran’s new Hormuz map shows why the strait remains its key leverage
The Revolutionary Guard’s expanded maritime claim follows a U.S. escort push through a largely closed energy chokepoint and reported attacks in the UAE
Strait of Hormuz
Hegseth says Iran ceasefire still holds after Strait exchange
The defense secretary said U.S. escorts for commercial ships are separate from the broader conflict, even after Iranian fire and a U.S. strike on small boats
Israel-Lebanon conflict
Smotrich says he promised son ‘more destruction’ in Lebanon
The Israeli finance minister’s remark comes as Israel continues strikes in southern Lebanon and as he pushes to annex Lebanese territory and redraw Israel’s borders
Securities enforcement
Elon Musk to pay $1.5M to settle SEC suit over Twitter disclosures
The proposed settlement, which still needs a judge’s approval, resolves claims that Musk waited too long to disclose early Twitter stock purchases in 2022
Atlantic cruise outbreak
Two Hantavirus Cases Confirmed After Cruise Ship Deaths
Three MV Hondius passengers have died, but officials have not confirmed the cause of every death as the ship remains under precautions near Cape Verde
Strait of Hormuz
US denies Iranian report that missiles hit Navy ship
CENTCOM said no U.S. Navy ships were struck as Washington began helping merchant vessels move through the Strait of Hormuz under “Project Freedom
Immigration policy
Reform says it would put migrant detention centres in Green-voting areas
The party says Green constituencies and councils would be prioritised under its deportation plans, drawing sharp criticism from rival parties
Strait of Hormuz
U.S. guides ships through Hormuz as UAE reports Iranian drone attack
CENTCOM said two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels safely transited under Project Freedom, but the passage came amid Iranian threats and a reported attack on an ADNOC-linked tanker
Ukraine support
Starmer says UK talks on EU Ukraine loan could strengthen ties
The prime minister said Britain is discussing participation in a £78bn EU-backed loan plan, with potential benefits for Ukraine, UK jobs and defence cooperation with Brussels
Design
Professor Wins Bauhaus Bathroom Contest for Gropius House
The competition centered on creating a public restroom for the historic Gropius House, turning a practical visitor need into a design commission tied to a modernist landmark
Weight-loss drugs
GLP-1 hair shedding fuels a growing beauty market
As use of weight-loss drugs rises, brands and retailers are seeing more demand for scalp treatments, supplements and products aimed at thinning hair
India state elections
Modi’s BJP breaks through in West Bengal, ending TMC’s long run
Early results showed the BJP far ahead in a state it had never governed, a symbolic and strategic gain for Narendra Modi’s party after years of expansion
Met Gala 2026
Met Gala returns with ‘Fashion is Art’ theme and star co-chairs
The annual Costume Institute fundraiser takes over the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, with Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour among its co-chairs
Markets
European shares slip as Trump threatens 25% EU auto tariffs
The Stoxx 600 reversed early gains as automakers fell and investors watched renewed trade tensions alongside security risks in the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. troop posture
Pentagon to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany
The drawdown is expected over six to 12 months and comes as Trump clashes with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other NATO allies over the war with Iran
Markets
Market rally collides with Iran war oil shock
The S&P 500 has reached new highs while crude prices swing sharply, leaving strategists warning that investors may be underestimating the economic drag from disrupted energy flows
Strait of Hormuz
Trump says US will guide stranded ships out of Hormuz as Iran warns against intervention
The initiative, called “Project Freedom,” is set against a dangerous maritime standoff, disrupted energy shipments and unanswered questions over how the Navy would move vessels safely
Rare Documents
Ken Griffin Acquires Second Original Printing of the Constitution
The privately purchased document is expected to go on view in New York for the 250th anniversary of American independence
Energy markets
Oil rises as U.S. begins Hormuz navigation operation
Brent climbed nearly 2% after weekend attacks on commercial vessels and a new U.S. military effort to escort traffic through the key waterway
Venezuela
Maduro’s ouster brings little immediate change for Venezuelans
U.S. officials say control of the oil industry will “unleash prosperity,” but people in Caracas say a broader recovery will take more
U.S.-Venezuela ties
U.S. Visit to Venezuela Follows First Direct Flight Since 2019
A New York Times video says the trip came after direct air service resumed, with a White House adviser summing up the message as “drill, baby, drill
Oklahoma shooting
At least 10 injured in shooting at Lake Arcadia party
Early reports differed on the number of people hospitalized, with several outlets citing totals from at least 10 to at least 13. Suspects were reported to be at large
Black Hills
Nine tribes sue to block graphite drilling near Black Hills sacred site
The lawsuit says federal agencies approved Pete Lien & Sons’ exploratory project near Pe'Sla without required tribal consultation or environmental review
Retail takeover bid
eBay jumps after GameStop makes $55.5 billion takeover bid
Ryan Cohen’s unsolicited, non-binding offer values eBay at $125 a share, but financing questions and board approval remain major hurdles
Hormuz standoff
Iran warns U.S. over Hormuz ship plan as oil stays above $100
Trump says the U.S. will help guide stranded vessels out of the blocked strait, but Iran says passage must be coordinated with its armed forces
Russia-Ukraine War
Drone Hits Moscow High-Rise Days Before Victory Day Parade
Moscow’s mayor said two other drones were intercepted as airports paused operations and Russia reported 117 interceptions across several regions
North Atlantic right whales see most births since 2009
The recently ended calving season, which runs between mid-November and mid-April, saw 23 new calves born.
Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Official Warns Ships in Strait of Hormuz Could Be ‘At Risk
A saved summary of a New York Times report said vessels trying to cross without permission were warned of danger; details on enforcement were not provided
Yankees
John Sterling, longtime Yankees radio voice, dies at 87
WFAN announced the death of the broadcaster whose calls became part of Yankees radio for more than three decades