Welcome to the first edition of The Waypoint. We read the week so you don't have to. What follows is what actually happened — cross-referenced, stripped of spin, and presented without a national flag flying above the masthead. We hope you find it useful. — The Editors
Iran and the United States Move Toward a Framework — The Strait of Hormuz May Reopen
Middle East · Geopolitics · Energy
The defining conflict of 2026 may be inching toward its first durable pause. The United States and Iran have developed a framework agreement that would extend their ceasefire by 60 days while both sides work toward a final deal — and critically, the proposal includes the gradual de-mining and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil supply normally passes.
Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, travelled to Tehran this week for direct talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Pakistani military reported "encouraging" progress. Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed the country is in the final stages of drafting a memorandum of understanding containing 14 clauses. Iran's position, notably, is that its nuclear programme is not part of the initial framework — a point of significant tension with both Washington and Jerusalem.
Israel remains publicly opposed to any agreement that does not include the dismantling of Iran's nuclear enrichment sites and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said as much on the record this week, following a call with President Trump in which Trump reportedly reassured him he would "stand firm" on nuclear demands.
The oil market has responded cautiously to ceasefire optimism — global supply has been running approximately 12.8 million barrels per day below pre-conflict levels since February. Any reopening of the Strait would begin unwinding that deficit, with significant downstream effects on energy prices worldwide. Global citizens have been paying for this war at the fuel pump for months without most of them fully understanding why.
What to watch: Whether the 14-clause memorandum is formally signed, and whether Israel's objections derail or delay the process. The next 72 hours are significant.
An Ebola Outbreak Nobody Is Talking About Has Killed 216 People
Central Africa · Public Health · Global Emergency
Since mid-May, a significant Ebola outbreak has been spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo and into Uganda — and for most of the world's news consumers, it has barely registered. As of 23 May, nearly 1,000 suspected cases and at least 216 deaths have been recorded. The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May. Africa CDC declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security the following day.
This is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC — a statistic that should give pause. The Bundibugyo strain responsible for this outbreak is rarer than the better-known Zaire strain, which complicates treatment: existing Ebola therapies were developed against Zaire. Ten additional countries have been identified as at risk of spread.
First responders in Ituri Province, the epicentre, report shortages of basic supplies. Multiple aid organisations have attributed this directly to cuts in foreign aid from major international donors. One American citizen has been medically evacuated to Germany after exposure in a healthcare setting.
The outbreak is unfolding in a region marked by armed conflict and deep mistrust of health authorities — the same factors that complicated the 2018–2020 DRC outbreak, the second-largest in history. The situation deserves considerably more international attention than it is currently receiving.
Russia Strikes Kyiv With Hypersonic Missiles. Ukraine Holds Its Ground.
Eastern Europe · Conflict
At least two people were killed and 77 injured in a Russian strike on Kyiv on 24 May, which included the use of hypersonic ballistic missiles. The attack struck a trade centre in the capital. Ukrainian officials confirmed the weapons used. Despite the strike, the overall battlefield trajectory over the past month has been modestly in Ukraine's favour — Russian forces have experienced a net loss of approximately 69 square miles over the past four weeks, according to independent tracking organisations.
The war is in its fourth year. The civilian cost continues to compound. Peace negotiations remain stalled.
Stories of genuine significance that mainstream media largely missed this week.
Pakistan Brokered a Major Peace Process — And Almost Nobody Noticed
Pakistan's emergence as the primary mediator in the US-Iran ceasefire talks is a geopolitical development that deserves far more analysis than it has received. A nation that has spent decades navigating its own internal instability and complex relationships with both Washington and Tehran is now the key intermediary in the most consequential conflict of 2026. Field Marshal Asim Munir's direct role in this week's talks represents a significant shift in regional diplomacy. The story being told is about Iran and the US. The story being missed is about Pakistan's quiet rise as a mediator power.
More Than 1.5 Million Pilgrims Gather for Hajj — Against a Backdrop of War
More than 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims have arrived in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage — one of the largest annual peaceful gatherings of human beings on earth. This year it takes place against a tenuous ceasefire in a regional war involving Iran, under extreme summer heat. The Hajj receives sustained news coverage primarily when something goes wrong. When 1.5 million people move in faith and relative peace, it is considered unremarkable. It is not.
China Launches Shenzhou 23 — One Astronaut Will Spend a Year in Space
China · Space Exploration
China launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 24 May, carrying three astronauts to the Tiangong space station. One of the three — commander Zhu Yangzhu — is set to remain aboard for a full year, an extended mission designed to study human adaptability in long-duration spaceflight. The mission is a direct step in China's programme to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030.
One crew member warrants particular mention: Lai Ka-ying, born and raised in Hong Kong, holds a doctoral degree in computer forensics and becomes the first astronaut from the city to fly a space mission. She is also identified in Mandarin as Li Jiaying. The Tiangong station — "Heavenly Palace" — was developed after China was effectively excluded from the International Space Station on US national security grounds. The parallel space programmes reflect a broader fracture in global scientific cooperation.
The world is not only broken. Evidence, weekly.
Hong Kong Reaches Space
Lai Ka-ying's launch aboard Shenzhou 23 marks a first — the first astronaut from Hong Kong on a space mission. Whatever the political complexities of the moment, a young woman from one of the world's most densely populated cities is now orbiting the Earth. That is worth acknowledging simply as a human achievement.
The Hajj Proceeds in Peace
More than 1.5 million people from nearly every country on earth have gathered peacefully in one place, in extreme heat, to mark one of humanity's oldest traditions. It is happening quietly, as it does most years. That quiet is worth naming.
Key global figures. No spin.
| DRC Ebola suspected cases | ~968 |
| DRC Ebola suspected deaths | 216+ |
| Countries at risk of Ebola spread | 10 |
| Global oil supply deficit (vs. pre-conflict) | ~12.8 mb/d |
| Hajj pilgrims gathered, Mecca | 1.5 million+ |
| Ukraine — Russian net territory loss (4 weeks) | 69 sq miles |
| China Shenzhou 23 — planned days in orbit | 365 |
The Waypoint
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Edition 001 · 25 May 2026 · thewaypoint.press