A missile strike hit a school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, 2026, killing 155 people, including 120 children. A US military investigation said the strike was a mistake and that the intended target was a nearby military base.
Key Facts
The strike occurred in Minab, Hormozgan Province, Iran.
155 people died in the attack, 120 of whom were children.
The missile attack is the deadliest single event in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The US military conducted a preliminary investigation.
The investigation found the strike was an error.
The actual intended target was an Islamic Revolutionary Guards military base beside the school.
The attack has affected peace talks and contributed to ongoing tensions in the region.
Journalists from France 24 reported from the bombsite.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival began in southern France, running for twelve days with many world movie premieres. This year, Hollywood films are mostly not competing, which is unusual compared to past festivals.
Key Facts
The Cannes Film Festival is in its 79th edition.
It takes place in Cannes, located in southern France.
The festival lasts twelve days and ends with the Palme d'Or award on May 23.
Many new films premiere during the festival.
Hollywood movies are mostly missing from the competition this year.
The absence of Hollywood films is described as highly unusual.
The festival is a major event for the global and French cinema community.
Cannes is known internationally as a prestigious film festival.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France is working quickly to stop the spread of hantavirus by quarantining 22 people who were in close contact with infected individuals. The government will hold two crisis meetings every day to manage the situation, and one close contact is being hospitalized in Rennes.
Key Facts
Hantavirus cases have been recorded in France.
Twenty-two close contacts have been identified for quarantine.
One close contact is hospitalized in Rennes, western France.
The French government is holding two crisis meetings daily.
The goal is to break the chain of virus transmission.
The news was reported on May 12, 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of people in Colorado, Texas, and Arizona are advised to reduce driving because air pollution from ground-level ozone is high. Officials warn that this pollution can cause breathing issues, especially for children, older adults, and people with lung problems. The alerts apply through Tuesday afternoon or night in affected areas.
Key Facts
Ground-level ozone forms when chemicals from vehicles and other sources react in sunlight.
The Colorado Department of Public Health issued an Ozone Action Day alert for several counties including Denver and Boulder.
Texas’s El Paso area has an Ozone Action Day warning through Tuesday night.
Arizona’s Maricopa County, including Phoenix, has an ozone pollution advisory amid heat up to 110°F.
Ozone pollution can cause lung irritation, coughing, and worsen asthma and other lung diseases.
People are advised to limit outdoor activities during peak ozone times, usually afternoons and early evenings.
Using air conditioning and air purifiers indoors and keeping windows closed can help reduce exposure.
Reducing driving lowers emissions that create ozone, helping improve air quality.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France has raised 23 billion euros in investments for Africa at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi. France is promoting a "partnership of equals" with African countries as it ends its military presence in West Africa and aims to change its past relationship with the continent.
Key Facts
The Africa Forward summit is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.
France raised 23 billion euros for investment in Africa.
President Macron wants to build a balanced partnership with African countries.
France is completing its military withdrawal from several West African nations.
This move reflects a shift in France’s role and influence in Africa.
The new approach seeks to move away from France’s history of neocolonialism.
Kenya’s President William Ruto joined Macron at a joint press conference.
The summit focuses on economic and political cooperation between Africa and France.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Australian government plans to save $36.2 billion over four years by slowing the growth of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Changes will limit who can access the program and reduce payments, aiming to support people with the most significant disabilities while keeping costs manageable.
Key Facts
The government expects to save $36.2 billion by limiting NDIS growth over the next four years.
NDIS currently supports over 760,000 Australians with disabilities.
Payments to participants are projected to decrease by at least $37.8 billion until 2030.
The scheme’s growth target will be reduced to 2% per year to avoid costs exceeding $100 billion by the mid-2030s.
The National Disability Insurance Agency will reduce staff by 669 next year, but the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will add nearly 200 staff.
Participant numbers are expected to drop to about 600,000 by 2030 from a forecast of 900,000 without changes.
New rules will reduce unscheduled reassessments, a major cause of spending growth.
A new assessment tool will standardize eligibility starting January 2028.
Non-NDIS programs for those no longer eligible will receive $3 billion over five years, matched by states and territories.
The Thriving Kids program for young children with autism and developmental delays will begin rolling out from October and be fully operational by January 2028.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
America is experiencing a rapid increase in activities once seen as immoral or illegal, like marijuana use, gambling, and pornography, as these become more common and accessible, especially through digital platforms. This shift has outpaced government rules and social norms, affecting many Americans and state finances.
Key Facts
Marijuana is legal for recreational use in 24 states plus Washington, D.C., and for medical use in 40 states.
The Trump administration reclassified medical marijuana to a less restricted category in 2024.
States have collected nearly $25 billion in cannabis taxes since 2014, with 2024 expected to bring in a record $4.4 billion.
Online sports betting is common, with over half of American men aged 18-49 having an account, and many betting large amounts daily.
States that legalized sports betting have seen increased bankruptcy and debt collection, especially among young, low-income men.
Prediction markets allow people to bet on events beyond sports, including political or violent outcomes, with huge increases in trading volume in 2024.
The average age for first viewing online pornography is 12, with 15% of kids seeing it by age 10.
AI technology has greatly increased nonconsensual deepfake porn, growing from 500,000 files in 2023 to 8 million by the end of the year, mostly without consent.
President Trump signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act criminalizing posting nonconsensual intimate images, including AI deepfakes, but challenges remain due to the scale of the problem.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a leadership crisis after a poor set of election results for the Labour Party. Many Labour members want him to step down or set a timetable for leaving, but he insists on continuing as prime minister and leader.
Key Facts
Sir Keir Starmer holds a cabinet meeting amid calls for him to resign.
Over 70 Labour MPs want Starmer to quit or make a plan to leave leadership.
Some cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, urge Starmer to set a departure timetable.
No formal leadership challenge has been launched yet, which needs support from 81 MPs (20% of Labour MPs).
Starmer told his cabinet the country expects Labour to focus on governing, not leadership battles.
Labour recently lost nearly 1,500 council seats in England and their power in Wales, plus had a poor showing in Scotland.
Labour’s bad election results and controversies, like Starmer’s appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, have caused internal doubts about his leadership.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are seen as potential leadership challengers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The CEO of Saudi Aramco stated that closing the Strait of Hormuz causes a weekly loss of 100 million barrels of oil. Oil prices rose as President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was very fragile and proposed removing the US federal gas tax to help consumers during the conflict.
Key Facts
The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for oil shipments.
Its closure leads to a loss of 100 million barrels of oil per week, according to Saudi Aramco’s CEO.
Oil prices increased amid tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump described the ceasefire with Iran as "on massive life support."
Trump suggested scrapping the US federal gas tax to reduce fuel costs for consumers.
There have been occasional clashes between Iranian and US forces near the Strait.
The conflict impacts global oil supply and energy markets.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UN health agency says there is currently no sign of a larger outbreak of hantavirus after passengers were evacuated from a cruise ship where several cases have been confirmed. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautions that the situation could change, and more cases might appear due to the virus's long incubation period.
Key Facts
Seven cases of hantavirus have been confirmed among passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Three people who traveled on the ship have died.
The cruise ship left Tenerife, Spain, and is sailing to Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Twelve hospital workers in the Netherlands are quarantined after possible virus exposure while treating one patient.
The virus strain involved is likely the Andes strain, which can sometimes spread between people.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, stomach troubles, and breathing difficulties.
The ship's final passengers and many crew members have been evacuated and repatriated to their home countries.
Health officials continue monitoring the situation and preparing to contain any further cases.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers has introduced major changes to property taxes, including ending negative gearing for new investors and altering capital gains tax to a system adjusted for inflation. The 2026 budget also plans large savings from changes to the national disability insurance scheme and delayed tax relief for workers, aiming to improve fairness and support home ownership despite economic challenges.
Key Facts
Negative gearing tax breaks will be abolished for new property investors.
The 50% capital gains tax discount will be replaced with a method that accounts for inflation, like before 1999.
These changes are expected to help 75,000 Australians buy homes over the next decade.
The national disability insurance scheme will be cut to save $36.2 billion over four years.
More than 13 million workers will receive a $250 tax offset starting in 2027-28.
A $1,000 instant tax deduction will benefit 6.2 million people in 2026-27.
The budget includes a $2.6 billion fund for a temporary 26-cent cut in fuel taxes.
The federal budget still plans deficits over the next few years but aims for a surplus within ten years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A recent national survey found that younger Americans, especially Gen Z and millennials, feel less patriotic than older generations. The poll also shows that Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they are patriotic.
Key Facts
The survey was done in April 2025 with 2,057 registered U.S. voters.
Overall, 69% of respondents said they were somewhat or very patriotic.
Only 56% of Americans aged 18 to 34 called themselves patriotic.
Patriotism increases with age, reaching 86% among those 65 and older.
82% of Republicans said they are patriotic, compared to 61% of Democrats.
The age gap in patriotism may be linked to political polarization and different school curricula.
Older generations experienced more "America-positive" teaching about national history.
Younger people tend to learn more about the country's flaws, leading to less patriotic feelings.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Changes made by congressional Republicans to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid are causing fewer people to use health coverage programs. These changes include ending extra financial help for ACA plans and adding work requirements for Medicaid in some states, leading to a rise in uninsured people and concerns about health care costs before the midterm elections.
Key Facts
About 1.2 million fewer people signed up for ACA coverage compared to last year after extra subsidies ended.
Nebraska started requiring some Medicaid recipients to work or prove work activity to keep their coverage.
Some states see 20% to 30% drops in ACA enrollment, while others offer more financial help to reduce losses.
Experts estimate several million fewer people will enroll in ACA plans in 2026 compared to last year.
Democrats are using the coverage losses to challenge Republican lawmakers in upcoming elections.
Medicaid work requirements could cause about 20,000 people in Nebraska to lose their coverage.
Advocates say the new rules are hard to navigate and may cause coverage loss even for people who are working.
Even with enrollment declines, 23.1 million people signed up for ACA plans for 2026, still higher than many past years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An inflation report will show rising prices as the war in Iran causes fuel costs to surge. Gasoline prices and airline fares have increased sharply, pushing overall consumer prices higher in April compared to previous months.
Key Facts
Inflation in the U.S. is expected to rise to 3.8% in April, up from 3.3% in March.
Gasoline prices jumped nearly 52% since the Iran war began on February 28, reaching $4.52 per gallon.
The Iran war led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20% of global oil supply.
The U.S. produces more oil than it consumes but still faces price increases due to global oil market changes.
Higher fuel costs increased prices for gas-dependent transportation like airline tickets and may soon affect groceries and furniture.
Consumer sentiment dropped to its lowest level ever recorded in May, according to a University of Michigan survey.
Despite inflation, U.S. economic growth was 2% in the first quarter of 2026, with unemployment steady at 4.3%.
The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates steady since early 2026 but may raise them if inflation continues rising.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The war involving Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off supplies of bunker fuel, a heavy oil used to power most cargo ships. This shortage is causing fuel prices to rise, especially in Asia, leading shipping companies to slow down ships and plan for alternative fuels. The fuel shortage is expected to increase shipping costs, raise prices for consumers, and affect businesses around the world.
Key Facts
Bunker fuel is a thick, heavy oil used to power about 80% of goods shipped by sea globally.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has blocked key sources of bunker fuel, especially from Middle Eastern countries like Iraq and Kuwait.
Singapore is the world's largest hub for refueling ships with bunker fuel, but its reserves are running low and prices have risen sharply.
Before the conflict, bunker fuel cost around $500 per metric ton in Singapore; prices have increased to over $800 per metric ton.
Shipping companies are reducing vessel speeds and changing schedules to save fuel in the short term.
Some companies may struggle to survive the increased fuel costs caused by the shortage.
Asia depends heavily on Middle Eastern oil and has started using more coal, buying more Russian crude oil, and considering nuclear power to deal with energy problems.
More than half of global seaborne trade passed through Asian ports in 2024, so disruptions there affect supply chains worldwide.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies named Andriy Yermak, former chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, as a suspect in a $10.5 million money-laundering investigation. The announcement came as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia ended, and fighting continued with drone attacks.
Key Facts
Andriy Yermak is under suspicion for allegedly laundering 460 million hryvnias (about $10.5 million).
Yermak resigned in November amid the investigation.
The corruption probe is considered a major embarrassment for President Zelenskyy.
The ceasefire brokered by the U.S. lasted three days but ended with ongoing conflict.
Ukraine proposed to extend the pause in fighting, but Russia launched over 200 drone attacks overnight.
At least one civilian was killed and six others were wounded in the drone strikes.
President Zelenskyy met with the CEO of Palantir Technologies, a U.S. AI software company that helps with defense data analysis.
Russia claimed to have intercepted 30 Ukrainian drones near its border.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he plans to stay in office despite pressure from many members of his party to resign after poor local election results. He met with his Cabinet for important talks and took responsibility for the losses but refused to step down.
Key Facts
More than 70 Labour Party members in Parliament want Prime Minister Starmer to quit or set a timetable for leaving.
Starmer’s Labour Party suffered significant losses in recent local elections across the U.K.
Junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned and urged Starmer to step down for the good of the country.
Fahnbulleh criticized the government for lacking clear vision and strong values in governing.
Starmer told his Cabinet he would keep fighting and that there is a formal process to remove a leader that has not started.
He emphasized that the country expects the government to continue working rather than focus on leadership fights.
The Cabinet meeting was seen as a key moment to determine Starmer’s future as leader.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Virginia Republican representative, Jen Kiggans, is facing pressure to resign after she appeared to agree with a radio host’s remark telling House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to keep his "cotton-picking hands off of Virginia." Kiggans says she did not support the language but agreed Jeffries should stay out of Virginia politics.
Key Facts
Jen Kiggans is a Republican representative from Virginia.
She appeared on a podcast with host Rich Herrera discussing Hakeem Jeffries’ role in Virginia’s congressional redistricting.
Herrera said Jeffries should keep his "cotton-picking hands off of Virginia," a phrase with racist connotations.
Kiggans responded by agreeing with the statement during the interview.
After the clip spread on social media, Democrats including California Governor Gavin Newsom called for Kiggans to resign.
Kiggans later said she did not condone the racist language and only agreed Jeffries should not interfere in Virginia politics.
Democrats criticized Kiggans for endorsing what they called a racist remark and demanded an apology or resignation.
The controversy is tied to tensions over redistricting and election laws in Virginia.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Keir Starmer told his cabinet that he will not quit as prime minister because no formal leadership challenge has been started. Despite pressure from some colleagues and one minister resigning, Starmer said he wants to continue governing and focus on delivering change.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer said the rules for challenging a party leader have not been met, so he will not resign.
At least 80 members of parliament asked Starmer to set a date for leaving the leadership.
Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned and urged Starmer to plan an orderly exit.
Some senior cabinet members discussed with Starmer the need for a calm and responsible transition if he leaves.
Others encouraged Starmer to stay and keep leading the party.
Starmer’s team highlighted the tough job of being prime minister and warned against quick leadership changes.
Some MPs publicly supported Starmer, saying the country needs political stability because of global problems.
Starmer stated that he accepts responsibility for election results and wants to focus on governing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Indigenous Australians from the Yindjibarndi group have won a record A$150.1 million payout after a court found that billionaire Andrew Forrest’s mining company, Fortescue, mined iron ore on their land without permission. The payment is the largest native title compensation ever granted in Australia and covers both economic losses and cultural damage.
Key Facts
The Yindjibarndi people were awarded A$150.1 million after a legal battle with Fortescue.
Fortescue is owned by billionaire Andrew Forrest and operates mines in Australia’s Pilbara region.
Since 2013, Fortescue has made billions mining iron ore on Yindjibarndi land.
The Yindjibarndi group originally sought A$1.8 billion in compensation.
The court recognized both economic loss (A$150,000) and cultural loss (A$150 million).
The cultural loss relates to the loss of connection and spiritual ties to the land.
The dispute began after a 2017 ruling gave the Yindjibarndi exclusive native title rights over a 2,700 sq km area.
Fortescue had government and some local approval but not from the native title holders, leading to nearly 20 years of legal conflict.
The mines are expected to keep operating until around the mid-2040s.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
