detoxed.news

May 7

Politics and elections

Voters in England elect six mayors and 5,066 council seats across 136 councils. In Scotland, voters elect 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament. In Wales, voters elect 96 seats to the Senedd.
Source: The Guardian external link
The parliament of the Solomon Islands debates a no-confidence motion against prime minister Jeremiah Manele. The debate is a culmination of a political crisis that started with mass resignations of the cabinet on 16 March, recently escalated by a ruling on 1 May by the Court of Appeal ordering the reconvening of Parliament.
Source: RNZ external link
Manele is ousted from the premiership following a successful no-confidence motion of 26–22, with two MPs absent. Manele remains as caretaker prime minister until governor-general David Tiva Kapu declares a new prime minister.
Source: Reuters external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi says that a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States to end the war is expected "sooner rather than later".
Source: Arab News PK external link
The Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization says that ports in Iran are prepared to provide maritime services, technical support, supplies, and medical assistance to ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: AA external link

Law and crime

The Seoul High Court reduces former South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo's prison sentence from 23 years to 15 years for crimes related to former president Yoon Suk Yeol's 2024 martial law declaration, citing a lack of evidence that Han played a leading or premeditated role in the declaration.
Source: AFP via CNA external link
Former Chinese defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe are both sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve following their convictions on graft charges.
Source: Politico external link
Sri Lankan authorities arrest 30 Chinese and Vietnamese nationals in Colombo in a crackdown on cyberscams in the country, raising the total number of those detained to 261.
Source: The Straits Times external link

Sports

The International Olympic Committee lifts restrictions on Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympic Games from 2028, while Russian athletes remain limited to individual neutral participation because of the Russian Olympic Committee's suspension.
Source: AFP via RFI external link

Business and economy

Sherritt International suspends its mining operations in Cuba and withdraws expatriate staff, citing the risk of expanded United States sanctions affecting its operations.
Source: AFP via News Abhiyan external link

May 6

Disasters and accidents

At least 16 people are killed and four others are injured when a passenger bus crashes into a tanker truck in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Source: AFP via Al Arabiya external link

International relations

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi meet in Beijing, China, to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, among other related topics, ahead of potential Iran–U.S. talks.
Source: Al-Monitor external link

Business and economy

Gold prices rise to more than a one-week high following reports that Iran and the U.S. may be nearing a peace deal to end the war.
Source: CNBC external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

Pakistani deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar says that Pakistan is focusing on making the current ceasefire between Iran and the United States permanent.
Source: Pakistan Today external link
reports that Iran and the U.S. are closing in on a one-page memorandum to end the war and set a framework for negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program.
Source: Reuters external link
France deploys the aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Red Sea ahead of a proposed British–French mission aimed at securing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: AP external link
French shipping company CMA CGM says that one of its container ships, , was attacked yesterday while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Arab News external link
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says that safe passage on the Strait of Hormuz will be assured with new procedures and guidelines following the U.S. pause in Operation Project Freedom.
Source: Reuters external link
Five people are killed and three paramedics are injured by Israeli drone strikes and airstrikes across southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
Source: AA external link
Israel carries out an airstrike against a building in Beirut, allagedly killing a top commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Forces. It is the first strike in the capital since the ceasefire started on April 16.
Source: Reuters external link
At least 35 people are killed in coordinated attacks in central Mali that are claimed by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin.
Source: AFP via LBCI external link
The Sudan Doctors Network says that the death toll from drone strikes launched yesterday by the Rapid Support Forces in Kosti, White Nile has risen to 235 after laboratory doctor Adel Musa al-Tijani was killed in the drone strike.
Source: Sudan Tribune external link
Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates deny Sudan's accusations that they were responsible for the May 4 drone attack on Khartoum International Airport.
Source: Khaleej Times external link

Health and environment

Three passengers infected with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome from the Andes virus are evacuated off the MV  cruise ship while it is stationed off the coast of Cape Verde to receive treatment in the Netherlands. At least 145 people remain on board, including two suspected asymptomatic cases.
Source: Fox News external link
Spanish authorities allow the ship to dock at the Canary Islands as several passengers are Spanish citizens.
Source: Reuters external link

Politics and elections

Ivory Coast dissolves its election commission following criticism over its management and independence, with authorities planning to establish a new electoral administration system.
Source: Reuters external link
Source: Euronews external link

May 5

Politics and elections

The Parliament of Romania votes 281–4 to pass a motion of no confidence, called by the Social Democratic Party and Alliance for the Union of Romanians, against prime minister Ilie Bolojan.
Source: AFP via France 24 external link
President Nicușor Dan refuses the possibility of holding snap elections, saying that a new government will be formed comprising a coalition of pro-Western parties.
Source: in Romanian external link
Source: The Guardian external link
The Ugandan parliament passes the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, which restricts foreign involvement in policymaking without government approval and imposes penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment for violations.
Source: Reuters external link

Law and crime

Two people are killed and three others injured in a mass shooting at a Korean supermarket in Carrollton, Texas, U.S., after a 69-year-old man opened fire on his coworkers at a business meeting. The suspect is taken into custody.
Source: NBC News external link
Two people are killed and seven others are injured in a school shooting in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. A 13-year-old suspect is taken into custody.
Source: in Portuguese external link
In Pasig, Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation arrests the founder of an online news site and four other people, in an entrapment operation for an alleged extortion attempt on former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
Source: PNA external link

Disasters and accidents

More than twenty people are killed over the past 24 hours in storms, heavy rainfall, and lightning strikes across Bihar, India.
Source: The Hans India external link
Eight people are killed and 41 others are injured in a fire at a commercial complex in Andisheh, Tehran province, Iran.
Source: AA external link

Health and environment

German biotechnology company BioNTech announces it will halt production of its COVID-19 vaccine due to drastic restructuring plans, leaving sole production of the vaccine to its partner Pfizer.
Source: Wall Street Journal external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio and U.S. military leaders, including U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth, say that the ceasefire is holding despite recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Reuters external link
U.S. president Donald Trump announces a pause in Operation Project Freedom aimed at helping ships transit the Strait of Hormuz, citing Pakistan's request to do so and progress in negotiations.
Source: Arab News PK external link
Rubio announces that Operation Epic Fury, the codename for the initial phase of U.S. military operations in the war with Iran, has concluded.
Source: Time external link
The Israel Defense Forces confirms that Hamas Nukhba commander Anas Muhammad Ibrahim Hamed, who took part in the October 7, 2023 attacks including the Nova music festival massacre, was eliminated in a airstrike yesterday in the central Gaza Strip.
Source: Times of Israel external link
The Sudan News Agency reports that Sudan has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia, accusing them of involvement in recent drone strikes targeting the airport in Khartoum.
Source: EWN external link
Five people are killed and nine others are injured following a drone strike launched by the Rapid Support Forces on two fuel stations in Kosti, White Nile.
Source: Sudan Tribune external link
Boko Haram militants attack a Chadian military base on the shores of Lake Chad, killing 23 security personnel and injuring dozens of others.
Source: DW external link
At least 27 people are killed and more than 80 injured in Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
Source: New York Post external link

Arts and culture

Anti-Israeli protests are held outside the Park East Synagogue in New York City, U.S., after the synagogue hosted the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, an expo for land sales in both Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Source: The New York Times external link

Business and economy

As a result of the motion of no confidence against Romanian prime minister Ilie Bolojan, exchange rates between the Romanian leu and the euro rise to their highest level in history as the leu's value plummets.
Source: in Romanian external link

May 4

International relations

Austria expels three Russian diplomats over suspected espionage activities involving data interception from the Russian embassy and a diplomatic mission in Vienna.
Source: AP external link
Australia and Japan sign agreements on energy and critical minerals.
Source: Reuters external link
The 8th European Political Community Summit is held in Yerevan, Armenia, with leaders from nearly 50 countries participating.
Source: Euronews external link
Indonesia and Japan signs a defense agreement including cooperation in defense industry and personnel training amid the lifting of Japan's arms export ban.
Source: JakartaGlobe external link
Nigeria announces plans for the voluntary repatriation of its citizens from South Africa following reported attacks and safety concerns affecting foreign nationals.
Source: The Manila Times external link

Law and crime

Two people are killed and 22 others are injured, including two seriously, after a car was driven into a crowd of people in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. The perpetrator is arrested and the incident is being investigated.
Source: Reuters external link

Disasters and accidents

At least 26 people are killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Liuyang, Hunan, China.
Source: Reuters external link
Eight people are killed in a road accident in Dandong, Liaoning, China.
Source: Xinhua external link
Seven people are killed and 13 others critically injured after a bus collided head-on with a trailer in Northern Uganda.
Source: Xinhua external link
Three people are killed and 14 others are injured in a fire at a six-story apartment building in Manhattan, New York, United States.
Source: The New York Times external link
At least two people are killed and three others are injured when an Embraer EMB-721 crashes into a residential building in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Source: in Portuguese external link
Two people are killed after a fire swept through a residential area in San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines.
Source: Xinhua external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

The U.S. Central Command says that two US-flagged merchant vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the first vessels to cross the waterway since the start of Project Freedom. Additionally, CENTCOM also says that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited through the waterway.
Source: Axios external link
Iranian media report that the Iranian navy struck a U.S. Navy warship with two missiles, after it ignored warnings off the coast of Jask. United States Central Command denies the claim that a ship was hit.
Source: CNBC external link
A fire and explosion is reported on an anchored HMM vessel in the Strait of Hormuz near the United Arab Emirates. No casualties were reported.
Source: Yonhap external link
A vessel belonging to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is attacked by two drones in the Strait of Hormuz. No injuries were reported.
Source: Gulf News external link
The Pakistani foreign ministry says that the U.S. has evacuated 22 crew members on the and will hand them to Iranian authorities.
Source: Reuters external link
The IRNA confirms that the 22 sailors returned home to Iran at a border terminal in Sistan-Baluchistan.
Source: Pakistan Today external link
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar hold a phone call to discuss Pakistan's efforts to revive ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the war.
Source: Al Arabiya external link
The United Arab Emirates reports that it has intercepted three missiles from Iran, with the 4th one falling into the sea. This is the first report of missile interceptions since the ceasefire began on April 7.
Source: Khaleej Times external link
A strike on an energy facility in the Fujairah emirate injures three Indian nationals.
Source: AFP via LBCI external link
Rapid Support Forces launch drone attacks at several targets in Khartoum, Sudan, including the Khartoum International Airport in Khartoum, Sudan. Drone strikes are also reported at the Signal Corps in Khartoum Bahri and Al-Markhiyat camp in northern Omdurman.
Source: Sudan Tribune external link
The Sudan Army's air defenses intercept drone strikes at the airport.
Source: Yaffaps external link

Business and economy

The Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reports a 66% drop in passenger traffic in March 2026 amidst a disruption of air traffic in the Middle East due to the Iran war.
Source: Bloomberg external link