May 24 — On the evening of May 23 local time (which fell on the early morning of May 24 in Beijing), heavy gunfire erupted near the White House in the U.S., prompting a full lockdown of the presidential compound. At the time, President Donald Trump was inside the White House, law enforcement officials confirmed. According to reports, an emotionally disturbed suspect approached a checkpoint at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, adjacent to the White House. When officers ordered the suspect to step back, they opened fire on law enforcement personnel. The suspect was shot by responding officers and taken to a local hospital. A civilian bystander was also wounded in the crossfire. Both the suspect and the civilian are in critical condition, authorities said. In an updated statement, the U.S. Secret Service announced the suspect later died from their injuries at the hospital. (CNN)

May 24: President Trump posted on social media that he held a "very good call" in the White House Oval Office with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and other countries. The talks centered on the Iran issue and a peace reconciliation memorandum, he noted. Trump said the agreement has been essentially negotiated, pending final sign-off from the U.S., Iran, and other relevant parties. Separately, his call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "equally very smooth," he added. Final details of the agreement are still being discussed and will be announced shortly. Trump specifically highlighted one key part of the accord: The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened.

May 23 — According to AXIOS: President Trump said he will meet with negotiators later today to discuss Iran’s latest proposal, and will most likely decide by Sunday whether to resume military action against Iran. Trump added he is “fifty-fifty” on whether a “good” deal can be struck, or if ordering airstrikes on Iran is the path forward.

US Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted a weekly net outflow of roughly $1.26 billion in the week ending May 23, marking their largest weekly pullback since late January and six consecutive trading days of net redemptions. Data shows $649 million flowed out just on Monday, with outflows moderating in subsequent days but remaining consistent overall. Market participants pointed to three key drivers: rising U.S. Treasury yields, a stronger U.S. dollar, and geopolitical tensions. U.S. Spot Ethereum ETFs also faced pressure this week, logging 10 straight days of net outflows—their longest stretch since March 2025—for a total weekly outflow of approximately $216 million. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) manages about $61.1 billion in assets, though this figure trails the fund’s cumulative inflows of roughly $3.7 billion, signaling recent market price volatility has impacted its holding value. As of the close of ETF trading for the period, Bitcoin traded around $77,500 and Ethereum at approx

May 23 — Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in a May 23 interview that current negotiations are centered on ending what Tehran calls the "imposed war" instead of focusing on the nuclear issue for now. The U.S. and Iran are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding. Baghaei noted that ongoing talks do not cover nuclear issues or specific details about lifting sanctions. Still, Iran’s demands for sanctions relief — particularly the release of frozen Iranian assets — are clearly laid out in the 14-point memorandum of understanding. He added Iran is temporarily avoiding nuclear discussions because Tehran believes the nuclear issue has twice been used as an excuse to wage wars against the country. Right now, Iran’s priority is ending conflicts across all fronts, including in Lebanon. Nuclear negotiations could resume later, possibly within the next 30 to 60 days, Baghaei said.

May 23 (local time): During a meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Iran has proven in practice its compliance with the international legal framework. Raisi stated, “We are only seeking to restore the legitimate and just rights of our country and our people. However, our history and experience from past negotiations with the Americans urge us to exercise the utmost caution and prudence.” The Iranian leader added that the U.S. will not emerge victorious in this conflict, and regional nations—even the entire world—will suffer severe losses. He also noted that the Israeli regime is the only entity working to advance its regional interests by provoking war. Pakistan’s Army Chief General Bajwa commented that the current negotiation process is progressing smoothly. “Israel’s interests are rooted in conflicts and divisions among Muslims in the region,” he said. “It holds deep animosity toward anyone striving to de-escalate con