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Oil prices pulled back after movement in the Strait of Hormuz, easing markets but leaving volatility firmly in place. China is stepping up diplomacy with Iran ahead of a key summit with Donald Trump, while U.S. officials are now directly engaging AI leaders over emerging risks tied to advanced models.

From energy flows to geopolitical positioning and tech governance, today’s stories show how quickly global stability can hinge on a few critical decisions.

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Taiwan is planning new drills to counter an energy blockade after the Hormuz crisis exposed how vulnerable island economies can be to maritime chokepoints. Officials are preparing exercises meant to keep fuel and other critical supplies moving if shipping lanes come under pressure.

Energy security has become a first-order strategic issue for Taipei because an interruption would hit households, industry and military readiness at the same time. Modern deterrence is no longer only about missiles and ships, as stockpiles, escorts and supply resilience now carry similar weight.

Those plans matter well beyond Taiwan because the same logic applies across Asia’s trade-heavy economies. A blockade threat in one theater can now be informed by a disruption in another, tightening the link between Middle East instability and Indo-Pacific planning.

A Kenyan outsourcing firm has laid off more than 1,000 workers after losing a major content moderation contract with Meta. The cuts affect employees tasked with reviewing and removing harmful content from social media platforms.

Outsourcing firms have become essential to how large tech companies manage moderation at scale across global markets. These roles are often demanding, while workers remain tied to contracts that can change with little warning.

The layoffs highlight how vulnerable outsourced digital labor can be when major clients shift strategy or pull contracts. The episode raises broader concerns about accountability, stability, and labor protections in the platform economy.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with U.S. officials at the White House to discuss cooperation on risks tied to advanced AI systems. The talks included concerns around the company’s “Mythos” model and broader safety measures.

Rapid advances in AI capabilities have drawn increasing scrutiny from policymakers and industry leaders. Governments are seeking closer coordination with developers to address potential risks before systems scale further.

The meeting reflects growing urgency around oversight of powerful AI technologies. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is becoming central to how these systems are governed and deployed.

International donors have pledged more than £1 billion in aid to Sudan as the humanitarian crisis deepens. The funding is aimed at addressing growing needs driven by conflict, displacement, and worsening food shortages.

China is stepping up engagement with Iran ahead of a planned summit with Donald Trump, balancing regional interests while managing ties with Washington. The move highlights Beijing’s effort to maintain stability and protect strategic priorities as high-level talks approach.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the latest crisis to call for a broader mission to protect navigation near Hormuz, as reflected in today’s Ukraine coverage. Kyiv is arguing that economic warfare and battlefield warfare now overlap too much to treat them separately.

New York's legislature advanced a bill to grant CDLs to undocumented immigrants, addressing a truck and bus driver shortage that has worsened since federal immigration enforcement ramped up. Opponents say the move creates a security gap; supporters argue the labor shortfall is already costing the state billions in freight delays.

The International Energy Agency warned that jet fuel faces a critical shortage as the Gulf conflict has disrupted the refinery capacity behind roughly 18% of global aviation supply. Airlines are already curtailing long-haul routes and some carriers have issued force majeure warnings to corporate clients.

Images of the rebuilt East Wing ballroom, draped in gold leaf and chandeliers, sparked fresh Marie Antoinette comparisons as the White House pushes an affordability message for the midterms. Critics say the gilded makeover undercuts populist messaging already strained by rising grocery and rent numbers.

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The San Diego Padres sold to an investment consortium for $1.6 billion, setting a new benchmark for MLB franchise valuations outside the top five markets. The deal raises questions about whether private equity's expanding footprint in professional sports will accelerate player cost-cutting.

Ford Motor Company offloaded its entire corporate aircraft fleet as part of an austerity drive tied to disappointing EV margins. The sale includes four long-range jets previously used for executive travel, which the company said will be replaced by commercial first-class arrangements.

An independent review found NJ Transit can't handle the crowds expected at MetLife Stadium next summer, with the rail system projected to top out at 60% of demand on peak match days. FIFA officials have privately warned organizers that transit failures could trigger venue penalty clauses.

Researchers have identified more than 3,100 unstable “surging glaciers” worldwide that could trigger sudden floods and avalanches. The findings highlight growing dangers in mountainous regions, where rapid ice movement can release large volumes of water without warning.

Researchers found that Tijuana River toxins hit dangerous levels in the bodies of Border Patrol agents and lifeguards working along the US-Mexico coastal border. The findings add pressure on both governments to fund sewage infrastructure that has been under negotiation for more than a decade.

Japan's meteorological agency unveiled a new weather term for days topping 40 degrees Celsius after another scorching summer. The word kokushobi translates roughly as "brutally hot" and will sit above the existing "extreme heat day" label in forecasts.

Australian sprinter Kyle Burns claimed the national 200m title five days after being diagnosed with gout and told by his doctor not to run. Burns taped his foot, took anti-inflammatories, and ran the second-fastest time of his career.

The Houston Texans extended Will Anderson Jr. on a four-year, $112 million deal, securing the pass rusher who led the team's historic defensive turnaround last season. Anderson becomes the highest-paid edge rusher in franchise history.

The US men's national team unveiled a provisional World Cup squad for the summer tournament on home soil, with the head coach emphasizing fitness and versatility over name recognition. The squad includes five players under 22, the youngest contingent in a US major tournament roster in 16 years.

Country music songwriter Don Schlitz, who wrote "The Gambler" and other hits recorded by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, and Dolly Parton, died Friday at 73. Schlitz won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018.

A new biography revisits the band’s legacy, focusing on their creative output and personal excesses. It explores how decades of touring and experimentation shaped their music and lasting cultural impact.

BBC broadcaster Andy Kershaw, who brought world music to Britain over four decades on Radio 1 and Radio 3, was found dead at his home. Kershaw was celebrated as one of the most influential voices in British broadcasting, credited with breaking artists from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean to mainstream UK audiences.

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What Happened: Iran reversed itself in less than 72 hours, declaring the Strait of Hormuz open after a weekend in which tanker traffic nearly froze. Ship-tracking analysts noted that several Iran-linked vessels slipped the blockade in the interim, raising questions about how tight the U.S. net really is. Tehran framed the reopening as a goodwill gesture, not a concession.

Why It Matters: Roughly a fifth of global oil and a huge slice of liquefied natural gas flow through this 21-mile corridor, so any disruption ripples into every energy market on earth. The UK and France have agreed to lead a joint naval mission to escort tankers through the strait while diplomacy plays out. That mission is the biggest European naval commitment to the Gulf in a decade.

Key Variables: Washington is leaning on a tanker-by-tanker approach, selectively clearing vessels and punishing buyers of Iranian crude to keep pressure on Tehran. CNBC analysis describes the shift as Trump's tanker diplomacy at scale, with Cuba and Venezuela watching for how aggressively the White House will use the same playbook. The approach rewards compliance but risks splintering OPEC+ cohesion.

What to Watch: Jet fuel inventories have been the first pinch point, with refiners warning of lagging supply as airlines rebuild summer schedules. Industry trackers flag a widening global jet fuel gap that could push ticket prices higher through June. If the ceasefires wobble, that squeeze turns into a full-blown summer travel shock almost overnight.

- A tractor-trailer flipped on a Tennessee exit ramp and unleashed one million unusually alert hitchhikers, turning rush hour into a beekeeping convention.

- Air New Zealand is rolling out economy bunk beds that come with a strict no-cuddling, no-smelly-snacks policy, because apparently someone had to say it out loud.

- Midwest bars are keeping the gloriously odd meat raffle tradition alive, where $2 tickets can win you a pork loin and a surprising amount of civic pride.

That’s your Five Minute Daily for today. Share it with someone who wants to stay informed without the noise.

—The Five Minute Daily Team