The possibility of an end to the US war on Iran is fueling debate in Congress. Republican Senator John Kennedy said Iran and Oman appeared close to an agreement that would let ships pass through the region, but he doubted Tehran would receive the sanctions relief or blockade removal it seeks. Senator Ted Cruz defended President Trump’s decision to launch military action, portraying him as a strong commander protecting the country. The conflict is now emerging as an issue for the midterm elections, while lawmakers remain divided over war powers.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-08 04:00

The Trump administration is launching a new education investment aimed at expanding domestic production of critical minerals. At a roundtable held at the US State Department, President Trump announced $100 million in grants for education and workforce training. Universities, community colleges and trade schools will be eligible for the funding. Officials say the initiative is intended to prepare workers to mine, process, refine and manufacture critical minerals, including lithium.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-08 03:30

Michigan Democrats are seeking to project unity behind their statewide candidates. Their effort follows a heated U.S. Senate primary held three days earlier. The contest exposed tensions between the party’s progressive and moderate wings. Democrats are now presenting a more unified front after the divisive race.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-08 03:11

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has privately told other senior Trump advisers that the United States needs a way out of the war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter. The sources say he believes military choices for escalating the conflict could backfire. They also say airpower alone is unlikely to deliver President Donald Trump’s stated objectives. One source put it bluntly: Caine is looking for an off-ramp.

CCNN2026-08-08 03:00

The Wall Street Journal reports that US intelligence assessments indicate Vladimir Putin may be preparing a limited incursion as soon as the coming weeks. The war’s front line in Ukraine is described as stalemated, while Russians are increasingly feeling its effects. The report suggests Putin may be strongly motivated to open another front and test NATO’s resolve because he may not want to be remembered as the leader who lost Ukraine. Warning signs are appearing across Europe.

DDW News2026-08-08 03:00

Wildfires are sweeping through parts of the northwestern United States, destroying whole neighbourhoods and driving tens of thousands of people from their homes. Environmental advocates say the danger extends beyond local communities to the region’s varied wildlife. The World Organisation for Animal Health warns that wildfires are becoming a more serious animal-health emergency. Animals can suffer life-threatening burns, smoke inhalation and dehydration as the fires destroy their habitats.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-08 03:00

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana discusses the confirmation vote for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He also addresses calls to cancel the Senate’s five-week recess. Kennedy makes the comments on “America Reports,” framing confusion as evidence of a complete understanding of the situation.

FFox News2026-08-08 02:45

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld and the “Gutfeld!” panel criticize progressive far-left commentators, including Hasan Piker. They discuss the Democratic Socialists of America while presenting the situation as one created by Democrats themselves. The segment is framed as political commentary and uses sharply critical language toward the progressive left. Its focus is the relationship between Democratic politics, democratic socialism and media commentators.

FFox News2026-08-08 02:42

More than 160 people rescued by Nigerian security forces in Kwara state have been transferred to civilian authorities. Officials say most of those freed are women and children. They are receiving rehabilitation support before being returned to their families. The group was part of more than 300 civilians the government says were rescued earlier in the week.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-08 02:30

Mexico has once again stopped sending avocados to the United States. The country began deploying 1,500 additional troops to the western state of Michoacan on Thursday. A day earlier, the US suspended government operations there, including inspections required for avocado exports, citing an unspecified threat to US interests.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-08 02:25

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, urged the United States to arm Iranians so they could fight their own government. Speaking on “The Story,” Cruz analyzed the escalating tensions with Tehran. Iranian officials had threatened to block hostile vessels from using the Strait of Hormuz. His call places support for opposition forces alongside the dispute over access through the strategic waterway.

FFox News2026-08-08 02:00

A 2026 survey by the US think tank Pew Research Center found that China was viewed more favorably than the United States in 25 of the 36 countries surveyed. It marks the first reversal of this kind since Pew began conducting comparable research in 2005. Scholars attributed the shift partly to the Trump administration’s foreign and trade policies, which they said weakened America’s image. China’s work in infrastructure, technology and economic and trade cooperation has meanwhile increased its appeal in some countries. Japan, South Korea and the Philippines still view China negatively, citing geopolitical factors.

BBBC Chinese2026-08-08 02:00

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have pledged to deepen military cooperation through a joint defence agreement. The arrangement is modelled on NATO’s Article 5, treating an attack on one member as an attack on all. It comes as countries in the region increasingly turn to one another for security after Israel’s war on Gaza, strikes on several regional countries and renewed conflict with Iran. The agreement points to closer strategic coordination among the three states.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-08 02:00

Singer-songwriter Magnus Ferrell is gaining wider attention with his breakout track “Asleep Talking.” He tells the Associated Press that watching his music reach a larger audience has felt surreal. Ferrell reflects on growing up in a musical household with his father, Will Ferrell. He also describes the jazz influences shaping his sound and his artistic ambitions. For him, remaining uncomfortable is essential to continued creative growth.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-08 01:49

Donald Trump is making another attempt to restrict birthright citizenship after his first effort was overturned by the Supreme Court. His new executive orders also target so-called birth tourism, in which pregnant women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can obtain US citizenship. The measures raise constitutional questions, including how the 14th Amendment applies and whether the court could side with Trump.

DDW News2026-08-08 01:30

Chinese-American writer Han Xiu speaks with VOA about an 80-year life spanning the United States, China and Taiwan. She recalls how an article in Taiwan launched her writing career and describes meeting Nobel Literature laureate Gao Xingjian. The interview also revisits diplomatic episodes involving Ying Ruocheng’s alleged identity as a “spy.” Han says Taiwan’s preservation of traditional Chinese culture is the greatest force resisting Chinese Communist authoritarianism, and that a route from Washington to Taipei may offer hope for China’s future.

VVOA Chinese2026-08-08 01:20

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez criticized Meta during a media briefing on Friday. He said the parent company of Instagram and Facebook “must pay the price” for choosing to place profits ahead of children’s safety. Torrez’s remarks framed the company’s conduct as a choice for which it should be held accountable.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-08 01:12

Typhoon Dolphin is moving across Japan’s Okinawa prefecture and the Ryukyu Islands with sustained winds of about 165km/h and gusts approaching 200km/h. It is described as one of the strongest storms of the year, comparable to a category 2 hurricane. Evacuation orders cover roughly 260,000 people, while flights have been cancelled. Dangerous waves, coastal flooding and intense rain are expected near the southern islands. The storm is forecast to weaken before reaching eastern China on Sunday evening.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-08 01:04

The Philips Collection in Washington, the United States capital, has opened an exhibition featuring work by 48 contemporary artists from the District of Columbia area. The artists were selected from 1,500 submissions, using materials including salt, thread, paint, wax and video to reflect current social, cultural and political conditions. Their backgrounds span countries such as Pakistan, India, Chile, Mexico, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Iran. Mojé Rezaipour’s video installation recreates nearly 200 digital protest images and videos made by Iranian women and schoolgirls over three years.

VVOA Chinese2026-08-08 01:00

Fox News host Jesse Watters discusses newly released materials from the United States government concerning unidentified aerial phenomena. The discussion appears on “Jesse Watters Primetime” and focuses on the government material about UFOs and related aerial phenomena.

FFox News2026-08-08 00:47

President Donald Trump is taking a direct role in talks involving Iran as tensions rise across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing for a possible attack by Iranian allies based in Iraq. At the same time, the United States is pressing to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The developments put Trump’s diplomatic approach under pressure amid expanding regional threats.

FFox News2026-08-08 00:30

Recent US intelligence assessments suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin could seek to test NATO’s resolve within the next few years by launching a limited attack on an allied country, according to three people familiar with the reports. The assessments describe several possible paths for Russian escalation. These include a cyberattack or a small-scale incursion. The apparent aim would be to challenge NATO’s unity and its commitment to Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

CCNN2026-08-08 00:27

UCLA professor Daniel Blumstein and his team have launched an OnlyFans account called @OnlyMarms. It features cute, G-rated photos and videos of marmots. The project is intended to raise money for their research as government funding cuts put pressure on scientific work.

GGuardian News2026-08-08 00:18

Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella took the oath of office as Colombia’s president on Friday. The ceremony was held under heavy security in Cali, in the country’s volatile southwest. Holding it there broke with the tradition of staging the inauguration in the capital. The choice of Cali was intended to signal a hard-line posture toward illegal armed groups.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-08 00:04