Good evening. It’s Sunday, May 18.

1. Biden Cancer Shock

2. Patel and Bongino: Epstein Killed Himself

3. Update: Pro-EU Nicușor Dan Wins Romanian Presidential Election

4. Trump Tax Bill Passes in Key US House Committee Vote

5. Stock Futures Fall After Moody’s Cuts US Credit Rating

6. Uncancelled: Spacey to Be Honored at Gala Dinner

1. Biden Cancer Shock

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.

The finding came after the 82-year-old reported urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

2. Patel and Bongino: Epstein Killed Himself

FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino insisted that disgraced financier and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo Sunday.

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York in August 2019. New York City’s chief medical examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging. He was set to stand trial on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. His death instantly triggered a wave of conspiracy theories, with many speculating that he was murdered in order to protect the powerful figures who associated with him.

Epstein was a known associate of former President Bill Clinton, former MIT Professor Noam Chomsky, and Prince Andrew. The phrase “Epstein didn’t kill himself” became a viral internet meme in the wake of his death. Patel, however, was adamant that his death was indeed a suicide when questioned by Bartiromo.

3. Update: Pro-EU Nicușor Dan Wins Romanian Presidential Election

Pro-EU Nicuşor Dan was on course to become Romania’s president on Sunday, according to exit polls, leading a run-off against an Eurosceptic Simion who had topped the first round.

Dan, a 55-year-old mayor of the capital Bucharest, was set to win with more than 54 per cent of the vote compared with around 45 per cent for George Simion, the leader of the right-wing AUR party, according to pollsters CURS and Avangarde.

“Elections are not about politicians, they are about communities. And the community that won today wants profound changes,” Dan said to cheering crowds. He acknowledged the anger of the “community who lost”, promising reforms to fight corruption and improve the rule of law.

4. Trump Tax Bill Passes in Key US House Committee Vote

House Republicans secured enough support to push the “one big beautiful” reconciliation package out of the Budget Committee late Sunday night.

The late-night victory for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and President Donald Trump came after GOP fiscal hawks relented due to concessions from leadership related to Medicaid and clean energy policy repeals.

The Budget Committee voted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act out of committee, 17 to 16, with four Republicans voting present.

5. Stock Futures Fall After Moody’s Cuts US Credit Rating

Just when the stock market had clawed back all the losses sparked by the panic over President Donald Trump’s tariff plans, investors faced a round of debt-related angst as markets slid Sunday after Moody’s Ratings stripped the U.S. government of its last triple-A credit rating.

U.S. stock-index futures fell, while U.S. Treasurys also saw pressure, pushing up yields. The U.S. dollar weakened and gold futures rallied, but the overall reaction was relatively contained, analysts and traders said.

“S&P 500 futures found dip support well above 5,900, showing that this isn’t an outright panic. Bears had their shot, but bulls are still defending key levels,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, in a note.

6. Uncancelled: Spacey to Be Honored at Gala Dinner

Kevin Spacey is to accept a lifetime achievement award in Cannes next week, in what may constitute one of the most high-profile “uncancellings” of the #MeToo era.

On Tuesday, the Oscar-winning actor is due to receive an award for excellence in film and television at the Better World Fund’s 10th anniversary gala dinner at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

Spacey, who is also visiting the world’s biggest film festival to help find buyers for his new film The Awakening, will be “recognised not only for his decades of artistic brilliance but also for his enduring impact on cinema and the arts”, according to a statement made by the fund. The Awakening is being presented in the Marche du Cannes, the industry market in the basement of the Palais du Cinema.