Top World News

Jun 5, 2026 - World

US secretary of state Marco Rubio says anyone providing services to listed entities ‘is at risk of sanctions themselves’The United States has announced fresh economic sanctions on Cuba’s president and some of his immediate family, alongside members of the Castro family, in Washington’s latest ramping up of pressure on its communist-led neighbour.Among those targeted were the son and a grandson of former president Raúl Castro, who no longer holds an official position but remains a key figure on decisions about the future of the island. Continue reading...

Jun 4, 2026 - World

President Donald Trump has pitted two of his cabinet members against each other in the battle over who will succeed him and run for president in 2028, and so far, there is a clear loser in this fight, an analyst revealed on Thursday.Secretary of State Marco Rubio has appeared to win Trump over so far, as Vice President JD Vance has lost favor after failed negotiations with Iran, wrote Jonathan V. Last, editor at The Bulwark. And Last argued that it comes down to what Harry Potter character Albus Dumbledore says: “People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.”"Point is that Rubio has been wrong about the Iran war from the jump. And that’s why Trump has begun elevating him above JD Vance in the Favorite Adopted Son sweepstakes," Last wrote."It’s clear that Trump is displeased with JD Vance," Last explained. "Early on, when Trump thought he was winning in Iran, there were leaks about Vance not being on board with the war. Daddy Trump sent Vance to negotiate with the Iranians when they clearly had all the cards, setting him up for failure—and at the same time took Rubio with him on vacation to fight night. There was a huge dump of leaks designed to show that Trump doesn’t think Vance has the juice."Rubio didn't play the same game as Vance. And Rubio has benefited."Vance’s mistake was trying to influence the party line, rather than adapting to whatever the Leader said the party line happened to be. Any of Stalin’s henchmen could have told him that was a mistake," Last wrote. "The worse Iran gets, the worse it will be for Vance," Last added. "Trump will become even more resentful—even if Vance never says, told you so. Trump will remember that Vance was the one who told him not to do it."

Jun 4, 2026 - World

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent snapped "Don't be absurd!" at a Democratic lawmaker Thursday after getting cornered on the administration's rosy claims about the Iran conflict — a tense exchange that exposed the widening gap between White House spin and reality on the ground.During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the Treasury Department's budget priorities, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) pressed Bessent on an offhand remark the secretary had made suggesting the conflict with Iran was over."Do you truly believe that we are no longer in conflict with Iran and that they are no longer a threat to Israel or allies in the Gulf, that their nuclear program has been destroyed, that they no longer have a ballistic missile program and drone program threatening its neighbors in the region?" Schneider demanded.Bessent walked it back fast. "The conflict is on pause," he said."So everything's good with Iran now?" Schneider pushed."No. Don't be absurd."The back-and-forth cut to the heart of the administration's credibility problem on Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that President Donald Trump has told aides privately he would only consider ending the ceasefire if Tehran kills American troops — a far cry from the decisive victory the White House has been claiming. The U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28 in strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but a ceasefire has been in effect since April 8.Bessent cited Trump's statement, telling Schneider that unless an American life is lost, the president does not believe he will have to restart "kinetic action."The exchange grew heated again when Schneider pivoted to the cost of living, rattling off rising prices for beef, coffee, housing, and health insurance. Bessent interrupted repeatedly, at one point shouting "Sir! Sir!" as Schneider reclaimed his time."I think you're just out of touch with what American families are facing," Schneider told him.Bessent fired back with a broadside at Schneider's home state: "No wonder so many people are leaving Illinois. Why don't you come see me in South Carolina?"The two did find rare agreement on one point — that no president, Republican or Democrat, should be shielded from IRS audits — before Schneider circled back to the administration's controversial IRS settlement, which Democrats have called an illegal act of self-dealing.

Jun 4, 2026 - World

A Republican lawmaker clashed with an anchor during a live CNN broadcast on Thursday over the Iran war after four GOP House leaders broke from President Donald Trump and voted to rebuke the president over the military operation.Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) and CNN's Brianna Keilar got into a heated exchange over what the Trump administration has planned to do next in the ongoing war, as gas prices skyrocket for Americans and the Senate now considers Trump's war powers in Iran. Haridopolos stated that he firmly stands behind Trump and his administration."The person I trust in this is President Trump," Haridopolos said. "And I trust Marco Rubio, he's been a 25-year friend of mine. He knows all the intricate details of what we're doing right now. The recommendation from the White House is to know all the details. They want to continue to keep the pressure on Iran as long as possible, because I know, look, we're all hurting with gas prices. We all recognize this, but what we have to do is finally eliminate this threat in Iran."Keilar asked the Republican if he thought the administration was entering "quagmire territory.""This is a real winnable situation — for the first time since 1979, to finally take out these crazy people in Iran," Haridopolos said. "And what we're trying to do is win the conflict. And I'm challenged, like you are, that no one likes the higher prices. But this is something we, the president, is willing to do." Keilar pushed back and asked Haridopolos if the war was a "winnable situation."He argued that Trump knew it would be a risk and unpopular, but that the president "believed the risk" was worth it.The conversation heated up when Haridopolos said, "if we go with your plan" — and Keilar interjected."Your plan? It's not my plan," she said."You're pushing for it. So that's being said," Haridopolos responded. "I'm telling you what Americans are saying," Keilar said, pushing back. "This is unpopular. You have now Republicans who have experience in wars that have lasted a very long time," she added.Haridopolos appeared frustrated with the anchor and said, "You want me to answer?"The two bristled and spoke over each other."You can, but you just told me what I was saying. And I'm telling you, please don't put words in my mouth. But please continue on with what you wanted to say," Keilar said.

Jun 4, 2026 - World

Beluga whales, which Marineland threatened to euthanize in 2025, will be moved to aquariums in Spain or across USCanada and an embattled marine park have reached a tentative deal on the future of 30 beluga whales, ending a saga that has captivated the public and angered animal rights groups.The federal fisheries ministry announced this week that all of Marineland’s belugas would be shipped to either Spain or one of four locations in the US, ending whale captivity in Canada. Continue reading...