Israeli Strikes Kill Lebanese Soldiers Despite Ceasefire
Israeli forces continued deadly airstrikes across southern Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire, killing Lebanese army soldiers including a brigadier general and narrowly missing journalist Abbas Fakih. The strikes came as the US intercepted seven ballistic missiles fired toward Kuwait and Bahrain, subsequently targeting Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said its attacks were retaliation for US strikes and included firing on tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz without authorization. Over 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the conflict began March 2, with Israel seizing roughly a fifth of the country.
Ukraine launches 1,000-km drone attack on St. Petersburg
Russia's air defense intercepted 376 Ukrainian drones during a major attack on St. Petersburg on Saturday, the closing day of the city's economic forum. Pulkovo Airport suspended operations with dozens of flights delayed and diverted. Ukrainian drones traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to target military installations. President Zelensky had suggested drones would "pay a visit" to the forum before inviting Putin to meet face-to-face, which Putin rejected as inappropriate. Zelensky is expected to discuss military support with Western leaders in London on Sunday.
Putin sees 'no point' in meeting Zelensky to end war
Putin rejected Ukrainian President Zelensky's proposal for a face-to-face meeting at an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, saying he sees "no point" in such talks and describing Zelensky's open letter as containing "rude remarks." Ukraine responded with a large-scale drone attack on Putin's hometown, with air defenses shooting down 376 drones over the city and 141 over the surrounding Leningrad region. A Ukrainian maritime drone later exploded at Romania's Constanta port after Kyiv lost control of four drones, likely due to Russian electronic jamming, prompting the evacuation of more than 1,300 people from several Black Sea beaches.
Armenia votes in pivotal election as Pashinyan defies Russia
Armenia held parliamentary elections on Sunday with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan seeking re-election on a platform of European integration and peace with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan's Civil Contract party led polls with 32-36% support while his main rival, billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, remains under house arrest on coup charges he rejects as politically motivated. Russia has banned Armenian imports and conducted a propaganda campaign against Pashinyan as Moscow faces its third consecutive attempt to influence a post-Soviet election. The vote represents a referendum on Armenia's pivot from Moscow following Azerbaijan's 2023 seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh, which triggered a mass exodus of over 100,000 Armenians.
North Korea rules out nuclear talks ahead of Xi's visit
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, declared the country's nuclear-armed status "absolutely irreversible" and not subject to negotiations, according to state media. The announcement precedes Xi Jinping's first visit to Pyongyang in nearly seven years on Monday. Kim Yo Jong also rejected U.S. claims that Xi and President Trump confirmed a shared denuclearization goal during their May summit, calling the reports "false." North Korea earlier unveiled a new uranium-enrichment facility where Kim Jong Un called for "exponential" expansion of the atomic arsenal, and separately ordered missile production increased 2.5 times over five years.
U.S. in Talks to Buy Stake in OpenAI
The U.S. government is in talks with OpenAI to acquire a stake in the company, with negotiations underway since 2025 when CEO Sam Altman first pitched the idea to the Trump administration. OpenAI is considering donating shares to fund a "Public Wealth Fund" that would allow citizens to benefit from AI growth. Altman admitted at a conference in Sydney that he expected the automation of administrative jobs to occur much faster than it has. The company is preparing for a potential IPO seeking at least $60 billion at a valuation reaching up to $1 trillion.
More
- SpaceX targets record $2 trillion valuation in historic IPO. The Elon Musk company is seeking to raise $75 billion on June 12, but analysts peg its fair value at roughly half that figure, and its loss-making AI venture xAI lost $6.4 billion last year.
- OpenAI plans to turn ChatGPT into a superapp. The overhaul would add advanced coding tools and AI agents as OpenAI seeks to attract corporate clients and boost revenue ahead of a public listing, according to the Financial Times.
- NASA's X-59 reaches supersonic speed in milestone flight. The experimental aircraft hit 713 mph on June 5, demonstrating technology designed to replace thunderous sonic booms with a quiet thump, potentially reopening commercial supersonic routes over land.
- 100 New Ebola Cases in a Day as Outbreak Accelerates. WHO declared an international health emergency as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda recorded 471 cases and 84 deaths, with officials warning the outbreak could match the scale of the 2014 West Africa crisis.
- China bans 11 online creator activities, restricts minors. The regulations target rumor-mongering, fake news, and divisive content, while banning live streaming for under-16s and requiring parental consent for ages 16-18.