Evening Edition · Sunday, May 31, 2026
A Weak Dollar Keeps the Hard-Money Trade Intact Even as Metals Cool
Gold near 4,535 dollars and silver near 76 dollars remain below their January peaks. The shekel reached its strongest level against the dollar since 1993, and a Russian court ruling tests the Western system for freezing assets.
Israel Captures Beaufort Castle and Pushes North of the Litani in Lebanon
Netanyahu calls the seizure a major shift against Hezbollah, while France demands a United Nations Security Council meeting and analysts say the advance solves no strategic problem.
US Tells Asian Allies to Spend 3.5 Percent of Output on Defense
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the era of subsidizing wealthy nations is over and pressed partners to meet a higher spending target in response to China's military buildup.
Bitcoin's Shrinking Volatility Is Framed as a Sign of Maturity
With the largest cryptocurrency trading near 74,000 dollars, an industry figure argues that calmer price swings reflect larger amounts of invested capital, while a brokerage promotes professional-grade tools to individual investors.
An Analyst Reads US Energy Strategy as a Quiet Contest With China
A commentary argues Washington is using energy dominance to constrain Beijing without direct confrontation, a framing with real consequences for global fuel and power supply chains.
Colombia Votes in a Tight Race That Will Test Investor Sentiment
Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who models himself on Trump, won a surprise first-round lead over the candidate continuing President Petro's leftist movement, sending the race to a June 21 runoff.
Satellite Images Show Israel Expanding Control Over Southern Gaza
An analysis says Israel is reshaping the territory as it moves to occupy a large share of the Gaza Strip, while a separate investigation traces the international supply chain that armed it.
China Marks 20 Years of a Domestic Jet Engine That Cut Reliance on Imports
The WS-10 turbofan allowed Beijing to power its fighter jets without foreign engines, a milestone in its push for technological self-sufficiency that now extends to critical minerals.
Blast at a Mining Explosives Store Kills More Than 45 in Myanmar
An explosion at a building said to hold mining explosives in northeastern Shan state injured about 70 people and damaged 100 nearby homes.
An Ebola Outbreak in Congo Spreads as Five Patients Recover
Africa's disease control agency reports 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths from a rare strain, even as the World Health Organization marks the first recoveries.
US Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats Pass 200 Dead Off Latin America
Coastal communities in Colombia and Ecuador say the campaign is forcing them to abandon fishing and other work that depends on the sea.
Indonesia Offers Zero-Percent Tax and New China Access to Lift Exports
Jakarta pairs incentives for compliant exporters with expanded fishery access to the Chinese market, part of an effort to route trade through a single, monitored system.