Top World News

May 8, 2026 - World

Stone being paid $50,000 a month to ‘rebuild’ relations between Washington and Myanmar’s military-backed governmentThe US lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of Donald Trump, has been condemned for accepting $50,000 a month to “rebuild” relations between Washington and Myanmar’s military-backed government.Myanmar’s leaders have been internationally isolated since seizing power in a coup in 2021, and have repeatedly been accused of atrocities that may amount to war crimes. Activists say the military rulers, which recently held widely condemned “sham” elections, are now trying to reassert themselves abroad. Continue reading...

May 8, 2026 - World

Trump described U.S. military strikes against Iran on Thursday as a "love tap," prompting scathing ridicule and skepticism that the attack didn't violate a delicate ceasefire. "President Trump tells me in a phone call the retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets are just a 'love tap,'" ABC senior political correspondent Rachel Scott posted on X. "When I asked if it means the ceasefire is over, 'No, no, the ceasefire is going. It's in effect.'" U.S. and Iranian naval forces briefly exchanged fire on Thursday. While Trump touted U.S. success in sinking Iranian ships like "a butterfly" in a Truth Social post, he downplayed the intensity to reporters to uphold the ceasefire deal. "I've also never heard someone use the term 'love tap' who wasn't also the kinda jack-- that would hit their wife," journalist and political consultant Adam Cochran responded. "Just sayin'""President Trump says the U.S. strikes that just occurred in Iran were a 'love tap' and that the ceasefire remains in place," journalist Yashar Ali wrote. "The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, says the strikes were a violation of the ceasefire and that it will respond.""The ceasefire is apparently still in effect, just with light physical affection," joked White House correspondent Nandita Bose. "At what point do exchanges of fire during a ceasefire constitute an end or violation of said ceasefire?" Foreign Policy writer John Haltiwanger demanded. "What is the threshold?""An idiot runs this country," Daily Kos reporter Emily Singer wrote. "He's insane," agreed former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

May 7, 2026 - World

Trump's reasoning for carrying on the war in Iran while facing upcoming midterms and trying to open the Strait of Hormuz for shipping doesn't make sense, said New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman."I see it as very confusing," Haberman told CNN's Jake Tapper on Thursday. "It is very hard to know what is happening. Frankly, from either government."Haberman pointed out that Iranians "are facing economic difficulties. There's no question about that," but "gauging exactly what that means is quite hard," she said."The economic issues that are being created by the energy crisis from this war are pretty measurable in terms of the cost of gas at the pump," at home in the U.S., though, Haberman added. But Haberman is perplexed that Trump's strategy with the war doesn't factor in voters' discontent with the bump at the pump."We'll see if President Trump gets more engaged in the midterms and feels as if there's some personal interest in it for him," Haberman said. "Maybe he will decide he wants to travel, but as long as gas prices remain where they are, it's not a great climate for his party."Iran and U.S. Naval forces exchanged fire on Thursday. Trump boasted U.S. military action in a Truth Social post shortly after the skirmish, writing that Iranian ships "dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!

May 7, 2026 - World

The United States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Axios report. A U.S. official confirmed the attack, saying the U.S. had conducted strikes on targets in the strait. It appeared to happen as the U.S. attempted to enforce the blockade.The Iranian navy targeted three U.S. destroyers, according to Iranian state media. The country's military said the U.S. had targeted an oil tanker and another ship entering the vital trade channel. "The U.S. official said the exchange did not constitute a resumption of the war, but the Iranian military described the U.S. strikes as a ceasefire violation and threatened retaliation. The extent of the strikes and resulting damage are unclear at this time," Axios reported.The exchange happened as both countries were negotiating a one-page memo in an effort "to end hostilities and lay the groundwork for more detailed negotiations."

May 7, 2026 - World

Trump broke his silence on a meeting with Brazil's president that perplexed journalists on Thursday. "Just concluded my meeting with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the very dynamic President of Brazil," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "We discussed many topics, including Trade and, specifically, Tariffs. The meeting went very well."Journalists would have to take Trump's word for it because a scheduled press conference was suddenly nixed, according to reporting by NewsNation. Anchors noted that the two leaders were expected to speak about tariffs and crime, as the Trump administration is considering labeling Brazilian cartels as terrorist groups. "The two didn't quite see eye-to-eye coming into this meeting," NewsNation correspondent Kellie Meyer said. "So maybe it is no surprise that they may not be going in front of the cameras." According to reports from Brazilian media, their meeting lasted three hours. Meyer reported later that despite saying he would meet with the Brazilian press, Lula da Silva called them off and didn't meet with them at all. "Our Representatives are scheduled to get together to discuss certain key elements. Additional meetings will be scheduled over the coming months, as necessary," Trump signed off in his post.