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President Donald Trump warned that Iran will be "blown off the face of the earth" if it attacks U.S. ships trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. launched a military operation to assist hundreds of trapped ships in the Gulf amid tensions with Iran, which denies U.S. claims of destroying its boats and intercepting missiles.
Key Facts
President Trump threatened severe retaliation if Iran attacks U.S. vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. began an operation to help over 800 ships and about 20,000 crew members trapped in the Gulf.
Iran attempted to block the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global trade and oil shipments.
The U.S. military said it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones, but Iran denies this.
Iran’s military warned it would strike any U.S. naval vessel near the strait and claimed to have hit a U.S. frigate with missiles.
President Trump claimed the U.S. has strong weapons supplies and global military bases ready for use if needed.
The conflict challenges a fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan last month that failed to reopen the strait.
The U.S. redirected 50 commercial vessels to avoid the ongoing blockade.
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The situation between the US and Iran is complicated, with both conflict and talks happening at the same time. The Strait of Hormuz is a key area because it is important for global trade and is also a place where both sides try to control the story. China and the UAE are playing important roles in this evolving situation.
Key Facts
US-Iran tensions involve a mix of conflict and negotiation occurring at once.
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global shipping and is a strategic hotspot in this conflict.
Both the US and Iran try to keep the situation unclear or “opaque” to control narratives and risks.
China is becoming more influential and may act as a mediator but will seek strategic benefits, such as US concessions on Taiwan.
The United Arab Emirates is acting independently in the region with its own strategic goals.
The current situation is fragile and any mistake could lead to a wider conflict.
Experts describe the process as carefully moving through a "minefield" toward a possible deal.
This conflict involves not just military power but also diplomatic and strategic signaling.
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Actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled their lawsuit related to the 2024 film It Ends With Us. The case, involving accusations of harassment and misconduct, was scheduled to go to trial in May but was resolved before then.
Key Facts
Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni in 2024 during the production of the movie It Ends With Us.
Lively accused Baldoni of harassment, sexual misconduct, and trying to damage her reputation.
Baldoni denied the accusations and filed a counter-lawsuit against Lively.
The legal battle revealed private messages and emails involving the actors and their celebrity friends.
Both actors were expected to testify at the May trial before the case was settled.
The settlement stops the lawsuit from going to trial.
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Russia and Ukraine have each announced their own separate ceasefire periods during their ongoing war. Russia’s ceasefire will be from May 8-9, tied to its Victory Day celebration, while Ukraine declared a ceasefire from May 5-6, stating they received no official notice from Russia.
Key Facts
Russia announced a ceasefire for May 8-9, linked to its Victory Day military parade in Moscow.
Ukraine declared its own ceasefire from midnight on May 5 to May 6 without official confirmation from Russia.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy emphasized that human life is more important than the anniversary celebrations.
Russia warned that if Ukraine attacks during the ceasefire, it would respond with missile strikes on Kyiv.
Russia said the ceasefire was a precaution due to fears of Ukrainian attacks during Victory Day events.
President Zelenskyy noted that Russia will hold the May 9 parade without military equipment, citing fears of Ukrainian drones.
Putin previously declared a 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, which Ukraine also observed.
Both sides have accused each other of breaking earlier ceasefires.
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A luxury cruise ship near Cape Verde has a suspected hantavirus outbreak. Three people have died, several others are very sick, and about 150 passengers from 23 countries, including four Australians, are in isolation on board.
Key Facts
The outbreak began on April 11 with a Dutch man who later died.
His wife also died after being disembarked on St Helena.
A British man was evacuated to Johannesburg and is critically ill with hantavirus.
A German passenger died on the ship on May 2.
Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, have severe respiratory symptoms.
The ship is currently not allowed to let passengers leave by local authorities.
There are about 149 people on board from 23 different countries.
Four Australians are among those stuck on the ship during the outbreak.
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President Donald Trump said that recent attacks by Iran near the Strait of Hormuz and the United Arab Emirates do not clearly break the ceasefire. He warned Iran to hope the ceasefire holds and said the U.S. is watching the situation closely.
Key Facts
Iranian forces attacked commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz and targeted oil facilities in the UAE.
President Trump said the firing was not heavy and stopped short of saying the ceasefire was broken.
The U.S. military responded by firing on six Iranian boats and intercepting missiles and drones.
Iran fired on a South Korean ship, and Trump suggested South Korea should get involved.
Most missiles and drones fired by Iran at the UAE were shot down, with only minor damage reported.
Trump emphasized that the U.S. is trying to maintain control and avoid overreacting to the events.
He expressed confidence that the U.S. will eventually win any conflict related to this situation.
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Mali’s leader, Assimi Goita, has made himself the country’s defence minister after the previous minister was killed during a series of attacks. This move comes amid ongoing conflict and security challenges in Mali.
Key Facts
Assimi Goita leads Mali’s military government, often called a junta.
He appointed himself as defence minister following the death of the former defence minister, Sadio Camara.
The previous defence minister was killed in attacks linked to rebel and jihadist groups.
Mali is facing security problems due to armed groups, including Tuareg separatists and jihadist fighters.
Mali’s army base in Tessalit was recently captured by rebels.
The situation remains unstable despite government claims that control is maintained.
The conflict is part of wider regional unrest in West Africa.
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Russia held a practice run for its Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square to mark 81 years since the end of World War II in Europe. The country also announced a two-day pause in fighting with Ukraine during the May 9 celebrations.
Key Facts
Russia practiced its Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square.
The parade celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
This year marks 81 years since that victory.
Russia declared a two-day ceasefire with Ukraine.
The ceasefire covers the May 9 Victory Day celebrations.
Victory Day is an important annual event in Russia.
The ceasefire aims to prevent fighting during the parade and celebrations.
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The Pulitzer Prizes were awarded to various works, including Daniel Kraus’s novel Angel Down, about World War I told in one long sentence, and Bess Wohl’s play Liberation, which explores feminist groups from the 1970s. Other winners included books about American history, poetry, memoir, and music.
Key Facts
Daniel Kraus won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for Angel Down, a World War I story told in a single sentence.
Bess Wohl won the drama prize for Liberation, a play about second-wave feminist groups in the 1970s.
Jill Lepore’s We the People won for history, focusing on the US Constitution.
Amanda Vaill won biography for Pride and Pleasure, about the Schuyler Sisters during the American Revolution.
Yiyun Li’s memoir Things in Nature Merely Grow received the memoir-autobiography prize and deals with the suicides of her two sons.
Brian Goldstone’s There Is No Place for Us won for general nonfiction, about working and homelessness in America.
Juliana Spahr won the poetry prize for Ars Poeticas.
Gabriela Lena Frank won the music award for Picaflor: A Future Myth, inspired by Andean legends and California wildfires.
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Senator Lindsey Graham urged a strong reaction to Iran after attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He cited recent damage to the UAE’s important infrastructure and attacks on international ships, including one from South Korea, as reasons for a firm response.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham represents South Carolina and is a Republican.
He called for a “forceful response” to Iran’s actions.
Iran is accused of attacking critical infrastructure in the UAE.
Iran is also linked to attacks on international shipping vessels.
Among the ships attacked was a South Korean cargo ship.
These events caused concern over regional security in the Middle East.
The call for response suggests diplomacy or military action may be considered.
UAE is a key country in the Gulf region, important for global trade and security.
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Several celebrities are choosing not to attend this year’s Met Gala because Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, are honorary chairs of the event. Some people are protesting and asking for boycotts of the gala due to their involvement.
Key Facts
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are honorary chairs of this year’s Met Gala.
Some celebrities, including model Bella Hadid, are skipping the event.
Bella Hadid liked a video on Instagram that criticized celebrities attending the gala.
The Met Gala is taking place at the Metropolitan Museum.
Protests and calls for boycotts are happening because of Jeff Bezos’s role in the event.
The Met Gala is a high-profile fashion event attended by many famous people.
The controversy revolves around Jeff Bezos’s business and influence, causing some negative reactions.
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Russia declared a ceasefire for May 8-9 to mark its annual World War II Victory Day and warned of missile strikes on Kyiv if Ukraine breaks it. Ukraine also announced a ceasefire starting May 5-6, hoping for peace during this period, but said it had not officially received Russia’s ceasefire offer.
Key Facts
Russia announced a one-sided ceasefire for May 8-9 during its Victory Day celebrations.
Russia warned of a large missile attack on Kyiv if Ukraine violates this ceasefire.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy declared a ceasefire starting May 5-6 without waiting for Russia’s official appeal.
President Putin proposed the ceasefire during a phone call with President Donald Trump last week.
May 9 is Russia’s Victory Day celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Western countries mark the victory on May 8, due to time differences when the German surrender happened.
Russia urged civilians and foreign embassy workers to leave Kyiv because of possible attacks.
Zelenskyy called for real steps toward peace and noted Russia’s concern about holding its Victory Day parade.
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Tensions rose in the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump announced "Project Freedom" to help ships stuck due to Iran closing the waterway. Iran claimed it fired missiles at a U.S. warship, but the U.S. denied this and said it was escorting ships safely through the area. Both countries exchanged conflicting statements and accusations about attacks and ship movements.
Key Facts
President Trump announced "Project Freedom" to assist ships blocked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said it fired warning shots and two missiles at a U.S. frigate, forcing it to retreat.
The U.S. Central Command denied any U.S. warships were hit by missiles.
The U.S. said two U.S.-flagged merchant ships passed safely through the Strait.
Iran denied any commercial ships passed and called U.S. claims false.
President Trump and a top U.S. admiral claimed six small Iranian boats were sunk by the U.S. Navy.
Both sides shared conflicting reports and images, some of which were false or outdated.
The situation remains tense with ongoing verbal exchanges between the U.S. and Iran.
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Mali's military leader, Assimi Goita, has also become the defence minister after the previous minister was killed in attacks by rebel groups linked to al-Qaeda and Tuareg separatists. The violence included a car bomb and fighting that captured key northern towns and caused civilian deaths.
Key Facts
Assimi Goita is now both president and defence minister of Mali.
The former defence minister, Sadio Camara, died in a car bomb attack during rebel assaults.
Rebels linked to al-Qaeda and Tuareg separatists captured the northern town of Kidal.
At least 23 people died, including civilians and children, due to the recent violence.
Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM and the Tuareg Liberation Front for Azawad work together against Mali’s military.
Mali’s military government came to power in coups in 2020 and 2021 and promised to restore security.
Mali cut ties with France and expelled French and UN forces; Russian Wagner Group ended its mission in Mali last year.
Rebels declared a partial blockade of the capital, Bamako, after recent fighting.
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An analyst said that America’s actions have confirmed what Iran’s government has been telling its people about the U.S. being a threat. The analyst explained that the Iranian leaders often say the U.S. wants to harm Iran, and President Trump has not changed that belief.
Key Facts
Iran’s government calls the U.S. the “great Satan” and says it wants to destroy Iran and its people.
An expert on national security spoke about this topic on France 24 news.
The expert said the U.S. has confirmed Iran’s claims by its actions or inactions.
President Trump has not taken steps to change the Iranian public’s view that the U.S. is hostile.
The topic is part of a wider Middle East discussion including Iran, Israel, and regional security.
Recent events in the region include drone attacks, missile interceptions, and tensions around oil zones.
Other news mentions rising inflation in Iran and humanitarian issues in nearby Lebanon.
The news reflects ongoing conflict and mistrust between Iran and the U.S.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened a new, larger space for its Costume Institute exhibitions called the Condé Nast Galleries, near the museum’s Great Hall. The spring exhibition, "Costume Art," displays 200 fashion items alongside 200 artworks from the Met to explore how fashion and art interact, focusing on diverse body types and challenging traditional ideas about fashion and the body.
Key Facts
The Costume Institute has moved to a 12,000 square foot new gallery, three times larger than its previous space.
The new galleries place fashion exhibits in a prominent location at the Met, close to the Great Hall.
The current exhibition, "Costume Art," pairs 200 garments and accessories with 200 artworks from the museum’s collection.
Curator Andrew Bolton organized the exhibition around 13 themes related to different body types, starting from the nude body.
The show features fashion that highlights underrepresented body shapes, including designs that emphasize fat, disability, and abstract forms.
Mannequins displaying diverse body types are placed on high platforms to draw attention to inclusivity in fashion.
The exhibit aims to rethink how fashion relates to art, suggesting the dressed body is a key part of the museum’s collection.
The exhibition launch was sponsored by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, which caused some controversy.
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Dolly Parton has canceled her Las Vegas shows at Caesar’s Palace because she is still recovering from health problems. She shared that her treatments are helping but she is not yet ready to perform on stage.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton was scheduled to perform six shows in Las Vegas last December but moved them to September 2026.
She announced she cannot perform now because her medications make her dizzy and weak.
Parton is 80 years old and said she is improving every day with the help of her doctors.
She is still working on other projects like making videos and planning to open a museum and hotel in Nashville.
Parton recently spoke publicly at her Dollywood theme park and topped a global favorability poll.
She previously had health issues with kidney stones and lost her husband last year.
Parton thanked her fans for their support and said she is on the path to full recovery.
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In the past three years, 23 innocent people have died and 30 have been hurt in gang shootings in Sweden, mostly linked to fights over drugs. Many of the shooters are very young and inexperienced, leading to more accidental victims. The Swedish government is introducing new rules to fight gang crime, including forcing social media companies to quickly remove gang-related violent posts.
Key Facts
23 innocent bystanders have been killed and 30 wounded in gang shootings in Sweden over three years.
Gang violence in Sweden is mainly about revenge and control of the drug market.
Victims include people hit by stray bullets, mistaken identity cases, and relatives of gang members.
Many shooters are young and inexperienced, increasing the chance of hitting wrong targets.
Gangs recruit teenagers, often under age 15, who cannot be legally punished but are used to carry out crimes.
The Swedish government plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for serious crimes.
New rules will require social media platforms to remove violent gang posts within an hour or face large fines.
The government’s efforts come before a general election scheduled for September 13.
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The 2026 Met Gala in New York is co-chaired and sponsored by billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos. This has led to protests and calls to boycott the event.
Key Facts
The Met Gala is a high-profile fashion event held in New York.
Jeff Bezos, a wealthy businessman, and his wife are sponsoring and co-chairing the event this year.
Some groups are protesting the Met Gala because of Bezos's involvement.
Protesters have called for a boycott, meaning they want people to avoid attending or supporting the event.
The protests are notable enough to attract media coverage.
The event usually features many famous people ("star-studded").
The article was reported by France 24 on May 4, 2026.
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Iran says its navy made a US warship turn away from the Strait of Hormuz, a very important waterway. The US government denies that any clash happened. This comes after President Donald Trump announced a mission called Project Freedom, meant to help ships stuck in the area.
Key Facts
Iran says its navy stopped a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US denies there was any confrontation with Iran’s navy.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for ships carrying oil and goods.
President Donald Trump announced Project Freedom to help ships trapped in this area.
Project Freedom is described as a humanitarian mission.
The situation increases tensions between Iran and the US.
Both sides have different stories about what happened at the Strait of Hormuz.
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