News

8, May 2026

US destroyers flee Strait of Hormuz after massive Iranian missile and drone barrage ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says its forces inflicted significant damage on US naval assets in a large-scale combined operation on Thursday evening, forcing three American destroyers to flee the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the commander of the IRGC Navy noted that the operation was launched in response to two provocative actions by the US military.

The first was a violation of the ceasefire involving an attack on an Iranian oil tanker near the port of Jask, which was followed by the approach of US Navy destroyers toward the strategic Strait of Hormuz despite clear warnings against it.

According to the commander, Iranian forces responded to the US military adventurism with “highly extensive and precise combined operation.”

The retaliatory operation involved a variety of advanced weaponry, including anti-ship ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and destructive drones.

He added that the weapons were equipped with high-explosive warheads and were fired directly at the enemy destroyers.

The commander stated that intelligence monitoring conducted by Iranian forces has since confirmed “significant damage” to the American military assets as a result of the strike.

Facing the devastating and precise Iranian firepower, the IRGC Navy commander said, three aggressor enemy vessels “fled the Strait of Hormuz area immediately.”

In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Thursday that Iranian forces gave an immediate response to a series of US military aggressions in the strategic waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari noted that the “aggressive, terrorist, and outlaw” US military, in violation of a ceasefire, targeted an Iranian oil tanker.

The spokesperson warned that the “criminal and aggressive” US and its allies must recognize that the Islamic Republic of Iran will, as it has in the past, deliver a crushing response to any act of aggression or violation “powerfully and without the slightest hesitation.”

These developments come amid continued US maritime banditry and piracy in the strategic waterway that remains closed to US and allied vessels.

Source: Presstv

7, May 2026

US Secretary Rubio meets Pope Leo XIV in bid to ease tensions ⁰

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid a fence‑mending visit to the Vatican on Thursday, highlighting close ties between the two sides after President Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV over his opposition to the Iran war angered the Holy See and triggered an ongoing public spat.

The US State Department underlined its “strong relationship” with the Vatican on Thursday after talks between top diplomat Marco Rubio and Pope Leo, weeks after US President Donald Trump’s astonishing attack on the first American pontiff.

“The conversations today were friendly and constructive,” a State Department official told AFP following the US secretary of state’s private audience at the Vatican.

Rubio’s visit comes after Trump accused Leo, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, of being “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy” following critical comments the pope made about the Middle East war.

After the talks, US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Leo and Rubio discussed the Middle East as well as their mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere – a phrase used by the US to refer to Latin America.

“The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,” Pigott said.

A US official confirmed that the Catholic Church’s work in Cuba was discussed.

The Holy See has long played an active role in Cuban diplomacy, while Rubio – a Cuban-American – has led the US administration’s efforts to bring major change to the communist-run country.

Rubio also met with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, with whom he discussed subjects including religious freedom, according to Pigott.

Rubio, a devout Catholic, had earlier sought to play down the rift between Trump and the pope, which sparked global headlines and risked alienating Catholic US voters.

The US ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, told reporters this week it would likely be a “frank conversation”.

For the Vatican’s part, “we’ll listen to him”, Parolin had said on Wednesday, noting that Washington had initiated the meeting.

The Trump administration had celebrated the election one year ago – May 8, 2025 – of Leo, the first US pontiff in history.

But its relations with the Holy See have since sharply deteriorated.

Trump’s unprecedented attack came after Leo called for peace in the Middle East war launched by Israel and the United States.

The pontiff condemned a threat by Trump to destroy Iranian civilisation as “truly unacceptable”.

Before leaving for Rome, Rubio said the trip had been planned before the clash, adding: “There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican.”

On Thursday, a US source hailed the welcome extended to Rubio, saying it “exceeded expectations”.

Rubio’s motorcade entered the Vatican through the Arch of Bells, an honour normally accorded to heads of state, and he was greeted by the Swiss Guard.

‘Pope being pope’

Despite the peace-making attempt, Trump again criticised the pope in an interview on Monday, alleging that Leo believes it is “OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.

“I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people,” Trump said of the pontiff.

Asked about the comments on Tuesday, Leo said that the Catholic Church’s mission was to “preach peace” and the Gospel.

“If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully,” he told reporters.

“The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt about that, and I simply hope to be heard for the sake of the value of God’s word.”

Parolin said Wednesday that attacking the pope “seems a little strange to me”, adding: “The pope is being the pope.”

Leo’s nationality means his words carry more weight in Washington than those of his predecessors – and he has used them, notably criticising the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

But it was the pontiff’s increasing anti-war rhetoric that triggered Trump’s ire.

The pope and Rubio met for the first time last year at the Vatican, alongside US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, just days after Leo’s election.

Sources: AFP and AP

6, May 2026

CNN’s pioneering founder Ted Turner dies at 87 ⁰

Ted Turner, who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980, has died at the age of 87, the network said Wednesday.

Cable News Network upended established broadcasting with its dedication to around-the-clock breaking news and shot to global recognition with its coverage of the Gulf War in 1990-91.

Ted Turner created CNN in 1980, revolutionizing the way America, and the world, got their news, and then went on to become one of the most prominent business leaders and philanthropists of his era.

A brash risk taker, Turner—whose death aged 87 was announced on Wednesday—helped reshape the television industry in the late 20th century.

He also made a name for himself with spectacular business deals, his ownership of professional sports clubs, a marriage to actress Jane Fonda, his leadership of a competitive yachting team and then a devotion to charitable and environmental causes.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in November 1938, Robert Edward “Ted” Turner III went to a military boarding school in Tennessee, and then attended Brown University, but was expelled before graduating.

Turner took over a faltering family advertising business after his father, despondent over financial problems, committed suicide.

After buying a number of radio stations, Turner’s purchase of a struggling Atlanta station in 1970 was his first move into television.

Ten years later, that became the flagship of his nationwide Turner Broadcasting System, the profits from which he parlayed into the launch of CNN.

CNN launched in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news network, gaining traction in the United States and later internationally.

The launch came as viewers were shifting from broadcast to cable and CNN became a key source of news during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, delivering extensive live coverage using satellite technology.

CNN’s success inspired the creation of other 24-hour news channels including Fox News by longtime Turner rival Rupert Murdoch, MSNBC and countless station worldwide.

Turner’s television empire expanded beyond CNN and included TBS and TNT channels for sports and entertainment, Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network, among others.

As his television empire expanded, Turner made a failed bid to acquire CBS in the 1980s and then briefly acquired MGM/UA Entertainment Co. studios.

Turner sold the Hollywood group back months later, while keeping the rights to large portions of its catalog including films from MGM.

Blockbuster deals

His deals got bigger in the 1990s when Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner in 1996, making him vice chairman of the media-entertainment powerhouse.

In 2001, AOL (previously America Online) completed its purchase of Time Warner for $165 billion in the biggest merger in corporate history.

But the deal had to be unwound within a decade with the falling fortunes of AOL, which used an inflated share price for the deal. Turner, the biggest shareholder of Time Warner, lost billions from the deal.

Sports figure

Turner bought the Atlanta Braves baseball team in 1976 and the team made several World Series appearances, winning in 1995. He sold his interest as part of the Time Warner deal, but the team continued to play on Turner Field until 2016.

He also owned the Atlanta Hawks NBA team and Atlanta Thrashers NHL team, both of which were transferred to Time Warner as part of the 1996 megadeal.

In other sports endeavors, Turner successfully skippered the US yacht Courageous to win the 1977 America’s Cup.

A yachting incident intensified the rivalry between Turner and Murdoch in 1983 when a Murdoch-sponsored yacht collided with Turner’s in the Sydney-Hobart race, sinking Turner’s schooner.

Afterwards, Turner challenged Murdoch to a fistfight and the two media icons continued to play out their rivalry in the business world.

Turner created the Goodwill Games in the 1980s as part of an effort to ease international tensions during the Cold War, amid Olympic boycotts led by the United States and Soviet Union. The last events were held in 2001.

Attention grabber

Aside from his business and sports deals, Turner gained attention for his personal life and his later ventures focused on philanthropy and the environment.

In 1996, he complained to The New York Times that “all the money is in the hands of these few rich people, and none of them give any away”.

He was Time magazine’s man of the year in 1991, the same year he married, actress Jane Fonda, his third wife. They divorced a decade later, and he blamed their marital woes on her conversion to Christianity.

Her version: “He needs somebody there for him 100 percent of the time … That’s not love, it’s babysitting.”

In 1998, he donated a billion dollars to the United Nations to create the UN Foundation, which has focused on climate change, sustainable development, technology and health initiatives.

Turner announced his departure from his post at Time Warner in 2003 to devote his energy to his other interests.

These include the Turner Foundation, founded in 1990, which supports efforts to fight climate change and improve air and water quality and has given away some $380 million.

His Turner Endangered Species Fund, launched in June 1997, has worked to save gopher tortoises, monarch butterflies and leopard frogs, working mainly with private landowners.

In 2015, he launched the eco-tourism venture Ted Turner Reserves, which enables tourists to visit his four properties in New Mexico and learn about conservation efforts.

Source: AFP

6, May 2026

CPDM MP Hon. Mbe Essae Mendomo dies suddenly in Yaounde ⁰

The lower house of Parliament has been struck by two deaths as it mourns the loss of its former president and Honourable Théodore Alexandre Mbe Essae Mendomo, MP for Djoum in the Dja-et-Lobo Division. He died on 6 May 2026, after a period of illness.

According to sources close to the Parliament, the legislator had been unwell for some time prior to his death, although details of his condition have not been made public.

A member of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), he represented the Djoum constituency in the National Assembly. He also served as Chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, where he contributed to parliamentary work on economic and development-related issues.

‎His passing comes at a moment of mourning within the National Assembly, which has also lost a prominent figure former parliamentary leader Cavayé Yéguié Djibril, who died in his native village today.

Source: Lebledparle.com

6, May 2026

Cavaye Yeguie Djibril dies aged 86 ⁰

After the former President of the Senate who died just a few days ago, Cameroon has once again been struck by the loss of a major state figure. This time, it is former Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, who has kicked the bucket at 86.

‎A towering presence in the country’s political life, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril headed the National Assembly of Cameroon for more than three decades. Appointed Speaker in 1992, he became one of the longest-serving parliamentary leaders in Africa.

He remained in office until March 2026, when Théodore Datouo was elected to succeed him, bringing an end to an era marked by continuity at the helm of the legislative body.

‎Known for his longevity and influence, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril was a central figure in the functioning of Cameroon’s institutions, presiding over parliamentary sessions and legislative processes for years.

‎According to early reports, he is expected to be laid to rest later today, although official details regarding the funeral arrangements are yet to be fully communicated.

Source: Lebledparle.com

5, May 2026

Mali leader Assimi Goïta assumes role of defense minister ⁰

Mali leader, Assimi Goïta, will assume the additional role of defense minister, according to a decree read on state TV on Monday, following the death of the previous minister in large-scale attacks.

Mali’s army chief of staff, General Oumar Diarra, ⁠will serve as minister delegate for defense, said the report, which described the move as a “strategic decision coming in a security context that remains ‌sensitive”.

The simultaneous attacks beginning on the morning of April 25 showed how fighters from different groups with different goals were ‌able to strike at the heart of the West African country’s military government, which took power after coups in 2020 and 2021.

Sadio Camara, the former defence minister who was instrumental in forging stronger ties with Russia, was killed when a car laden with explosives driven by a suicide attacker drove into his residence, the government has previously said.

The attacks set off fighting across Mali’s vast desert north, raising the prospect of significant gains by armed groups that have shown an increasing willingness to strike neighbouring countries and, analysts say, could eventually ⁠set their sights further afield.

Source: AFP

5, May 2026

Bundes: Berlin downplays US plan to cut troop levels in Germany ⁰

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has downplayed the impact of the US decision to withdraw troops from Germany and Washington’s plans to suspend the deployment of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles in the country, insisting the moves will not weaken NATO’s deterrence in Europe.

“I have absolutely no doubt that there will be no reduction in NATO’s conventional deterrence capability in Europe,” Wadephul said at a news conference in Athens, Greece, on Monday.

“That will be offset one way or another in any case,” he added.

His remarks came in response to questions about US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany and reports that Washington has dropped plans to deploy long-range missiles in the country.

“We must not overestimate individual measures,” Wadephul said, noting that the troop withdrawal had been widely expected as part of a US global defense posture review.

He also described the planned deployment of US long-range missiles as merely a “temporary measure” until Europe develops its own similar capabilities.

“We will now first seek close dialogue with the United States to determine what decisions have been definitively made and what options we have to consider,” he said.

“And second, we must view this as a new call to develop and make our own capabilities available more quickly. There is simply no way around this.”

Tensions between the German government and the Trump administration escalated last week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the American aggression against Iran for lacking a clear exit strategy.

Merz said Tehran “humiliated” Washington with its negotiating tactics.

Merz also cast doubt on a swift end to the conflict, stating: “The Iranians are obviously stronger than expected, and the Americans clearly don’t have a truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either.”

In response, Trump said on social media that Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

The Pentagon subsequently announced it would pull back 5,000 troops from Germany, with Trump indicating that even larger reductions were forthcoming.

US media also reported that the Trump administration intends to cancel a 2024 decision by then-President Joe Biden to deploy a battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk weapons to Germany, which was presented as a deterrent against Russia.

Source: Press TV

5, May 2026

Dipanda Mouelle: Supreme Court head for over two decades has died aged 84 ⁰

Cameroon’s judicial community is in mourning following the death of Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, a former head of the country’s Supreme Court and one of its most enduring legal figures. He passed away at the age of 84, after months of illness according to multiple sources.

Born on March 25, 1942, in the Littoral Region, Dipanda Mouelle built a long and influential career within Cameroon’s judiciary. After completing his legal training in Paris, he entered the magistracy in the mid-1960s and steadily rose through the ranks over the years.

He would go on to preside over the Supreme Court from 1990 to 2014, making him one of the longest-serving judicial leaders in the country. His tenure spanned key moments in Cameroon’s political and legal history, placing him at the center of several high-profile national developments.

Dipanda Mouelle is also remembered for his crucial role during the contested 1992 presidential election, reports suggest the scores were tied between Paul Biya and Ni John Fru Ndi but Paul Biya was announced president. His public remarks at the time, “my hands are tied” suggesting limitations in his capacity to act, have remained part of the broader narrative surrounding that election.

Beyond national borders, he contributed to international legal work, notably serving within the United Nations Committee Against Torture.

After leaving office, he remained in the public eye, including through legal action he initiated in 2015 against the state over his departure from the judiciary, which he considered an early retirement.

His death comes only three months after the passing of his spouse, adding a personal dimension to the loss felt by those close to him.

Source: Lebledparle.com

4, May 2026

Former New York mayor Giuliani hospitalized in ‘critical’ condition ⁰

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is hospitalized in “critical but stable condition,” his spokesman said Sunday, without disclosing what ails the 81-year-old former politician.

“Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he’s fighting with that same level of strength as we speak,” spokesman Ted Goodman said in an X post.

Goodman did not say where Giuliani was receiving care or how long he had been there, but he asked “that you join us in prayer for America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani.”

The New York Times reported that Giuliani was hospitalized in Florida.

Giuliani earned the moniker of “America’s mayor” for leading New York City through the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center buildings in Manhattan.

Earlier in his career, he gained fame as the fearless Mafia-busting prosecutor whose aggressive use of racketeering laws brought down New York’s organized crime families.

But Giuliani experienced a stunning fall from grace in recent years, including in 2023 when a federal jury ordered him to pay $148 million to two election workers after defaming them by falsely tying them to alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Giuliani, a Republican, became a fierce defender of President Donald Trump, joining his personal legal team in Trump’s first White House term.

He came under scrutiny by the Manhattan US attorney’s office in 2019 over his activities connected with investigations about Ukraine and apparent efforts to dig up dirt on Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Giuliani was also part of the effort to reverse his client’s clear election loss to Biden in 2020. But one by one, the post-election court challenges were withdrawn or dismissed as groundless.

He has since been disbarred in New York and Washington.

Giuliani was facing criminal charges in Arizona related to the 2020 election and other legal issues when Trump issued him a sweeping pardon last November.

On Sunday Trump hailed Giuliani as a “true warrior” and New York’s best-ever mayor.

“What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL — AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!” Trump added.

“They cheated on the Elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our Nation, and now, look at Rudy. So sad!”

Source: AFP

3, May 2026

Iran says Trump has to choose between ‘impossible’ war or ‘bad deal’ ⁰

Iran says US President Donald Trump now faces a sharply narrowed choice between an “impossible military operation” against Iran and a “bad deal” with the country.

The IRGC’s Intelligence Organization made the announcement in an X post on Sunday, after Iran submitted a comprehensive proposal aimed at bringing a permanent end to the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

With the proposal, Iran put the ball back into the court of Trump, whose country is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in.

“Iran sets Pentagon a blockade deadline; China, Russia, Europe shift tone against Washington; Trump’s passive letter to Congress; acceptance of Iran’s negotiating terms; there is only one way to read this: Trump must choose between ‘an impossible military operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran,’” it said.

“The room for US decision-making has narrowed.”

The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Iranian armed forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

They also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the enemies and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the critical waterway.

Source: Presstv