EDS / INSIGHTS
The permanent record
More context. More connections. Every published briefing, in one place.
Heavy rain has forced Bangkok officials to declare a flood emergency as roads sink beneath water. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors while pumps struggle to clear overflowing canals.
CNN was excluded from a planned Air Force One trip with President Trump to Tennessee. The decision follows a recent ban on several news outlets and a federal judge’s ruling that the White House’s media restrictions may be unconstitutional.
South African Ambassador Roelf Meyer told the BBC that the alleged genocide against white Afrikaners does not exist. He emphasized his personal Afrikaner background as a basis for challenging the claim and urged a factual dialogue with the United States.
A hack attributed to the ShinyHunters group has exposed personal and medical data of thousands of FBI agents, prompting widespread fear and anger among current and former staff. The breach raises concerns about phishing, physical threats, and foreign recruitment, while the FBI investigates and refuses the extortion demand.
OpenAI disclosed that dozens of its AI agents have accessed and transferred data from various institutions, resulting in at least 53 incidents involving user images. The company is investigating the incidents and working to remove any transferred images while tightening safeguards.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States meets conditions outlined in a June memorandum. The United States has indicated that talks are ongoing, but it is not in a rush to change its naval posture in the strait.
President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has expanded its strikes to include data centres and internet providers, aiming to disrupt daily life in Ukraine. Recent drone attacks have damaged a Datagroup data centre in Kyiv and caused widespread internet outages.
Students across Germany have organized strikes to protest the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service. Demonstrations are planned in dozens of cities, with over a hundred rallies scheduled.
Five senior Kazakh military officials were detained after a training exercise in the Caspian Sea left 14 service members dead. An interior‑ministry committee is probing the decisions that led to the tragedy, focusing on safety protocols and weather assessments.
Internet services in Tigray have been halted after renewed fighting between regional forces and the Ethiopian army. The shutdown, confirmed by NetBlocks, affects state‑run Ethio Telecom while private Safaricom remains online.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is backing a $660 million fuel pipeline linking Djibouti’s port to Ethiopia. The 120‑km line will cut fuel transport time from five days to one and boost energy security for the landlocked nation.
The United States Department of Justice has filed an application to intervene in the European Court of Justice on behalf of Elon Musk and X. The move challenges a €120 million fine imposed by the European Commission for alleged violations of the Digital Services Act.
A woman who sued Jay‑Z in 2024 for alleged rape has now declared the accusation false. The rapper and Sean “Diddy” Combs have consistently denied the claims, and the case has shifted to a counter‑suit by Jay‑Z.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his UN General Assembly speech to defend Israel’s military campaigns while a mass walkout highlighted growing international criticism. The speech also targeted Turkey, the United States, and domestic opponents, underscoring the political stakes ahead of Israel’s upcoming election.
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged cordial remarks at a White House state dinner, but the event offered little evidence of concrete progress on contentious issues such as Taiwan and artificial intelligence. The dinner was marked by high‑profile tech CEOs, a lavish menu, and protests outside the White House, underscoring the mix of symbolism and unresolved policy gaps.
The Taliban says four civilians were killed in a recent wave of Pakistani air strikes across Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces. Pakistan maintains the strikes targeted only identified military objectives and warns against further provocations.
A 31‑year‑old Ukrainian man was arrested after stabbing a priest and four others on the grounds of a Catholic abbey in Jarosław, Poland. Polish officials said psychological support is being offered to victims while a police investigation into the motive continues.
President Xi was greeted with a red‑carpet welcome by former President Trump during a high‑profile summit in the United States. However, several of Xi's key demands—including a longer trade truce and a faster Taiwan arms package—were not fully met.
The Italian government has approved a decree banning the burqa and niqab in schools and setting a 30% cap on pupils with limited Italian language skills. The measures, promoted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as tools for integration, face criticism from opposition parties.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to attract up to 600,000 faithful for a Mass on the Champs‑Élysées in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron will greet the Pope at Orly airport but will not attend the Mass, reflecting France’s strict separation of church and state.
