The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has surged past 470 confirmed cases, prompting fears among health officials that it could become one of the largest epidemics on record and triggering a major international emergency response.
Bernadette Chirac, widow of former French President Jacques Chirac and a prominent figure in French public life for decades, has died at age 93, according to reports on Saturday.
Lebanese military personnel were killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Saturday, just days after both nations agreed to a conditional ceasefire following U.S.-mediated talks, raising concerns about the durability of the truce.
The UN held a memorial ceremony honoring more than 4,500 peacekeepers who have died in service over 78 years, highlighting the mounting dangers faced by personnel in conflict zones worldwide.
Russian defence officials claim air defence systems intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones across 16 regions, including Crimea, as a major economic forum drew to a close.
Rescue teams in Laos have suspended their search for two missing men in a cave system, citing dangerous conditions that pose significant risks to rescue personnel attempting to locate them.
Brent crude jumped close to 6% to around $97 a barrel on Monday 1 June 2026 after Iranian agency Tasnim reported the suspension of nuclear talks with the United States. The reversal reinstates a geopolitical risk premium and complicates the European Central Bank’s policy assessment ahead of its 11 June meeting.
With eurozone inflation accelerating to 3.0% in April on surging energy costs from the Middle East war, the European Central Bank approaches its June meeting under pressure to consider its first rate increase in years, after holding the deposit rate at 2% since mid-2025.
European equity markets traded mixed on Wednesday 27 May 2026 as Brent crude plunged 4-5% on news that Iranian state television had seen a draft framework deal with Washington. CAC 40 closed up 0.43% at 8,207.89, FTSE 100 finished up 0.13% at 10,505.01, while the DAX edged 0.03% lower amid divergent sector reactions.
While Wall Street and the London Stock Exchange remained closed on Monday 25 May 2026 for Memorial Day and Spring Bank Holiday respectively, the Paris Stock Exchange operated normally despite the Whit Monday public holiday in France. Brent crude fell about 5% to under $99 a barrel as President Trump described US-Iran talks as proceeding in a ‘constructive manner’.
