May 4, 2026

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 66.

• U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that U.S. forces would begin an effort dubbed "Project Freedom" today to guide stranded ships safely through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz. Iran denounced the U.S. move as a violation of the ongoing cease-fire and reports this morning cite Iran's navy as saying it has prevented U.S. ships from entering the Strait. The U.S. military's Central Command says, however, that two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited through the Strait today. [more]
• U.S. officials warned on Friday that shipping companies could face U.S. sanctions for paying Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. [more]
• Iran is reported to have delivered, via Pakistan, a new 14-point proposal to the U.S. to end the U.S.-Israel-Iran war over the weekend. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism that the Iranian proposal would lead to a deal, saying that Iran has "not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years." [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,528 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Ukrainian officials say the key Russian oil export port of Primorsk, as well as a missile ship and multiple state-sponsored oil tankers, were hit in drone strikes yesterday. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | At least 12 people were wounded yesterday when shots were fired at a group of young people at a party at a lake outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. No arrests have yet been made in the incident, which remains under investigation. [more]

MORE U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | Police in Amarillo, Texas, say two teenagers were killed, and 10 other people were wounded, early Saturday when yet-unidentified gunmen opened fire outside an apartment in which a party was being held. The incident remains under investigation. [more]

U.S. ELECTIONS | Amidst similar actions in multiple states and following last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision weakening Voting Rights Act-mandated minority protections in congressional districting, the Republican governors of Alabama and Tennessee have called special legislative sessions this week to consider redrawing the states' congressional maps to more heavily favor Republican candidates. [more]

U.S. ABORTION | In a ruling on Friday, a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that abortion pills must be obtained in person nationwide, effectively blocking access to the medical abortion pills via mail. The ruling, which has been appealed to the Supreme Court, arose from a lawsuit filed by Louisiana last year in which the state argued that its abortion ban was being circumvented by prescriptions for the pills delivered by mail following out-of-state telehealth consultations. [more]

NEW MEXICO | After being ordered by a New Mexico jury to pay $375 million in civil penalties for harming children's mental health and now facing potential court orders to impose fundamental changes to its apps and algorithms, social media giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, warned that it could eliminate its social media services in New Mexico if forced to comply with "impractical mandates." [more]

U.S. AND GERMANY | U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. will withdraw some 5,000 military troops from Germany over the next year. The move comes amidst tensions between the two countries over the war in Iran and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent comment that the U.S. was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership. There are currently about 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany. [more]

U.S. AND EUROPEAN UNION | Citing what he said was the E.U.'s failure to comply with trade agreements, U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he will increase tariffs on cars and trucks produced in the European Union to 25%. [more]

GLOBAL OIL | The OPEC+ group of major oil-exporting countries agreed yesterday to increase production by 188,000 barrels per day starting in June. Analysts note that the decision is seen as somewhat symbolic as much of the group's oil normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains almost completely shut down amidst the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. [more]

EUROPEAN SECURITY | Amidst ongoing security tensions and uncertainty over the United States' commitment to transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump's administration, the leaders of about 30 European nations, along with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, are meeting in Armenia today for a European Political Community summit at which collective security, U.S. relations, and the wars in Iran and Ukraine are expected to be among the main topics of discussion. [more]

EUROPEAN MIGRATION | French officials say two people were killed, and 16 others were injured, yesterday when a small boat carrying migrants ran aground on the French coast while trying to cross the English Channel. Reports note that this was the third deadly incident involving migrants trying to cross the Channel to the U.K. in just over a month. [more]

KENYA | Interior Ministry officials say at least 18 people have died, and 54,000 households have been affected, in widespread flooding across Kenya over the past week. The Kenya Meteorological Department warns that higher-than-normal rainfall is expected to continue in the East African nation through the first two weeks of May. [more]

AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN | Meeting today in the Australian capital, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to deepen their countries' cooperation in a number of areas, including energy security, defense, supply chains, and critical minerals. [more]

HANTAVIRUS | The World Health Organization is reportedly involved in investigations related to a suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard a Netherlands-based cruise ship. Reports say three people aboard Oceanwide Expeditions' MV Hondius, which departed Argentina for Cape Verde about three weeks ago, have died and that multiple others aboard the ship have been sickened. [more]

BRAZIL | The office of Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere says an estimated 2 million people attended Colombian superstar Shakira's free concert on Copacabana Beach on Saturday night. City tourism officials say the concert could generate as much as $155 million in revenue from an influx in visitors and money spent in restaurants, hotels, and shops. [more]

AIRLINE INDUSTRY | Saying high oil prices made it impossible to continue its services, U.S. air carrier Spirit Airlines announced early Saturday that, after 34 years, it has gone out of business and “started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.” Reports note that Spirt employed about 17,000 people. [more]

HORSE RACING | Golden Tempo, ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux, won the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. DeVaux became the first-ever woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. [more]

SOCCER | With a 2-0 win over Parma yesterday, Inter Milan clinched Italian soccer's 2026 Serie A title. [more]

TENNIS | With his win over Alexander Zverev yesterday in the Madrid Open final, world No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner became the first men's tennis player to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "The Devil Wears Prada 2" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $77 million in receipts, followed by "Michael" and "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1959, the first Grammy Awards ceremonies were held simultaneously at locations in Beverly Hills, California, and New York, New York. Winners included Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Kingston Trio.  [more history]