Daily News Summary – 2026-05-04 – en

A WWII-era rifle grenade exploded beneath a campfire in St. Oswald bei Freistadt, injuring five children. A second grenade was found and safely removed.

Ballistic evidence confirmed that a Secret Service agent was struck by a shotgun pellet from suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the April 25 attack. The agent's vest saved his life.

A head-on collision in Jeantes, France, killed three Dutch nationals and left one in critical condition. The crossroads is known to be dangerous.

A hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius has killed three and left several severely ill. The WHO is coordinating the response.

German Chancellor Merz denied any connection between his criticism of Trump's Iran strategy and the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

China reclassified e-CNY balances as deposit liabilities, enabling interest payments and integrating CBDC into reserve requirements. This pressures the ECB and Fed to accelerate their own CBDC timelines.

China's export controls have triggered sixfold price spikes outside the country, with European licensing approval rates falling below 25%. The West's window to act is narrowing to 12-18 months.

The US launched FORGE, a 54-nation coalition, and Project Vault, a $10 billion strategic reserve, to counter China's dominance in rare earths and lithium. Beijing's 15th Five-Year Plan doubles down on control.

The US will guide hundreds of civilian ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran conflict began. Iran warns this violates the ceasefire.

Under India's chairship, BRICS is expanding mBridge, a CBDC-based settlement platform that bypasses SWIFT, reducing dollar reliance. McKinsey's trade update confirms global trade is fracturing along geopolitical lines.

BRICS+ nations now conduct 67% of intra-bloc trade in local currencies, while the US dollar's reserve share fell to 56.3%, a 30-year low. China's CIPS system processed $25 trillion in 2025.

The 54-nation FORGE coalition aims to create a parallel supply chain for critical minerals with price floors. China's 15th Five-Year Plan counters with strengthened export controls and overseas acquisitions.

The US dollar's share of global reserves fell to 56.32% in Q2 2026, the lowest since 1995. BRICS+ nations drive this shift with gold purchases and yuan-denominated oil contracts.

Global AI data center electricity consumption is on track to reach 1,000 TWh, straining grids and causing interconnection moratoriums. Big Tech turns to nuclear and natural gas.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed 20% of global oil supply and disrupted 46% of fertilizer trade, 35% of helium, and half of sulfur exports, threatening food security and chip production.

The Supreme Court ruled IEEPA could not be used for tariffs, forcing a temporary 15% Section 122 tariff. Over $166 billion in duties will be refunded, and Congress struggles to pass new trade legislation.

A mass shooting at Spring Creek Park near Arcadia Lake, Oklahoma, wounded at least 13 during a 'Sunday Funday' party. Two suspects in ski masks remain at large.