THE REGISTER
You're not going to be seeing anything through it — The Guardian
Cave divers push through blinded floodwater in Laos as a federal judge orders the White House to answer fraud allegations.
The morning's most thoroughly reported stories are its most contained ones.
Today's stories
More from today's coverage, told in the same calm voice.
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Judge demands White House answer Kennedy Center fraud claims
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to respond by June 12 to allegations that a legal settlement over the Kennedy Center was obtained through collusion and deception. Former judges who were party to the original case claim the court itself may have been defrauded. The judge is considering whether to reopen the matter. The Kennedy Center has been subject to administration plans for renaming and restructuring.
"The question of whether the case should be reopened because the Court was the victim of a fraud."
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Bus Fails to Slow, Kills Five on I-95
A charter bus operated by E&P Travel of Staten Island struck six vehicles on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia on Wednesday, killing five people and hospitalising 44 others. State police said the bus failed to slow for traffic before the collision. Among the dead were four members of the Doncev family from Greenfield, Massachusetts, and a 25-year-old woman from Worcester. At least three of the hospitalised remain in critical condition.
"The bus failed to slow for traffic and crashed into six vehicles, state police said."
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Canadian man pleads guilty to mass suicide facilitation
Kenneth Law, a Canadian man, has pleaded guilty to charges related to sending 1,209 packages containing lethal substances to people in 41 countries. Investigators link his products to at least 112 deaths in the United Kingdom and 14 confirmed deaths in Ontario. Law operated websites that marketed the substances before authorities shut them down. His case is among the largest of its kind in terms of geographic reach and confirmed fatalities.
"Law sent 1,209 packages to people in 41 countries before his websites were shut down."
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Ukraine warns of large Russian aerial assault
President Zelenskyy said Ukraine has received intelligence pointing to a major Russian strike within 24 hours, involving drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. The warning follows a Sunday attack that killed two people and wounded 83. Russian forces also struck a cargo vessel in the Black Sea, wounding two crew members. Ukrainian air defences are reported to be on heightened alert.
"Ukraine has received intelligence indicating the assault will involve drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles."
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UN lists Israel and Russia for conflict sexual violence
The United Nations has added Israel and Russia to its annual list of parties credibly suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict. The listing covers 31 verified cases involving Palestinian men, women, and children, and 310 instances affecting Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. Inclusion on the list is intended to prompt accountability measures and engagement with UN monitoring bodies.
"Russia deployed systematic sexual torture against Ukrainians in almost all detention centres."
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International divers race to rescue Laos cave miners
Eight gold prospectors became trapped in a flooded cave in Laos's Xaysomboun province after rising water cut off their exit. Specialist cave divers from Australia, Thailand, France, Japan, and other countries are coordinating the rescue in near-zero visibility conditions. One miner has been brought out alive, four remain on a ledge awaiting extraction, and two are unaccounted for and presumed dead.
"You're essentially diving in coffee — you're not going to be seeing anything through it."
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Spanish player Jodar denies Roland Garros misconduct allegation
Rafael Jodar, a Spanish tennis player competing at the French Open, was compelled to address a misconduct allegation involving a ball girl at Roland Garros. Jodar denied the claim at a post-match press conference. The incident drew attention during a tournament already dominated by the news of Novak Djokovic's third-round exit to teenage Brazilian Lorenzo Fonseca.
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New Glenn Rocket Explodes at Cape Canaveral Pad
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded at its Cape Canaveral launch pad, prompting the company to assess damage to the facility and the vehicle. The incident represents a significant setback for Blue Origin and carries consequences for NASA's Artemis lunar program, which had been counting on New Glenn as part of its launch infrastructure. The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed.
"The explosion marked a potentially serious blow to NASA's Artemis moon program."
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Ebola Crosses DRC-Uganda Border, Authorities Close Crossings
A Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded at least 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Seven cases have now been confirmed in Uganda, prompting Ugandan health authorities to close border crossings with DRC. Doctors working in affected areas have described the situation as difficult to contain, with limited resources and ongoing movement of people across the region.
"Doctors on the front line describe the outbreak as 'out of control.'"
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Ghana criminalises LGBTQ+ identity with prison terms
Ghana's parliament has passed a bill making it a criminal offence to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, carrying a sentence of up to three years in prison. The legislation also places a mandatory reporting duty on citizens, requiring them to inform on LGBTQ+ people they know. Human rights groups say the law puts an already vulnerable population at serious legal risk.
"Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer can be punished by up to three years' imprisonment."
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