Former U.S. President Barack Obama has said that the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran was achieved without any loss of life. In an interview with CBS, Obama stated that the deal successfully removed a large portion of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, with both U.S. and Israeli intelligence supporting the outcome.

Obama emphasized that the agreement was completed without firing a missile and that 97 percent of Iran’s enriched uranium was removed. He added that there was no dispute about the deal’s effectiveness and that it did not require military confrontation or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, highlight Obama’s continued defense of the diplomatic approach taken during his administration to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities through negotiation rather than force.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China soon, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The announcement, reported by Russian media outlet RT on Thursday, stated that while the exact date of the trip has not yet been determined, all necessary preparations for the visit have already been completed.

Russian news outlets suggested that the high-profile visit could take place as early as next week. Putin last visited Beijing in September 2025, when he attended a major military parade and a top-level summit. The upcoming trip is expected to continue the pattern of close diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Beijing, though no specific agenda or meeting details were disclosed.

The Kremlin’s confirmation signals ongoing coordination between Russia and China, but further information on the timing and objectives of the visit remains pending.

U.S. President Donald Trump has formally invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan to visit the White House on September 24. The announcement was made on May 14, 2026, highlighting the upcoming high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

During his remarks, President Trump praised the 'unprecedented and royal reception' he had received, describing it as incomparable. He also said that his discussions with Xi Jinping had been highly productive and expressed that spending time with the Chinese leader was a great honor.

The invitation signals continued diplomatic interaction between the United States and China, with both leaders emphasizing productive dialogue and mutual respect during their recent exchanges.

The United States announced a relaxation of its visa bond policy for certain football fans and team members traveling to attend the upcoming World Cup. The policy adjustment, confirmed by the US State Department on Wednesday, exempts players and officials of participating teams, as well as ticket-holding fans from those countries who register under the priority visa system, from paying the bond. The decision follows earlier requirements under President Donald Trump’s immigration control initiative, which mandated citizens of 50 developing nations to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000 as a refundable bond when applying for US visas.

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Morah Namdar said the move aims to facilitate legitimate travel for the tournament while maintaining national security priorities. A FIFA spokesperson welcomed the decision, citing continued cooperation with the US government and the White House task force to ensure a successful global event.

The World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, begins on June 11. Several participating nations, including Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia, were previously subject to the bond requirement, while citizens of Haiti and Iran remain under broader US entry restrictions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Iran of developing a vast arsenal of missiles and drones intended to protect a potential future nuclear weapons program. In an interview with Fox News, Rubio argued that Tehran was building military capabilities capable of overwhelming any country's defense systems. He claimed this buildup was designed to deter attacks on Iran and secure conditions for advancing nuclear ambitions, though Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons.

According to Rubio, Iran’s accumulation of drones and missiles would make any strike against it too risky, as the consequences could destabilize the entire region. He suggested that once Iran felt secure from external threats, it would proceed toward nuclear weapon development. The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

Rubio also mentioned that former US President Donald Trump reacted to the situation by calling it “impossible,” though no further details were provided about his statement or policy implications.

When Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, many international relations analysts expected him to adopt a hardline stance toward Beijing. Contrary to those expectations, his approach has shown notable flexibility, surprising observers. Australian academic Nick Bisley told Al Jazeera that while many anticipated Trump would pressure China, his actions have not matched that assumption.

Despite the unresolved war situation with Iran, Trump’s visit to Beijing is being viewed as highly significant. According to Bisley, this trip indicates that China remains a top priority in Trump’s foreign policy agenda. Earlier in the year, Trump had imposed tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports, nearly pushing bilateral ties to the breaking point. Both sides later eased their positions.

Trump has claimed that U.S.–China relations will become “better than before.” Analysts believe Washington’s current focus on stability and improvement in relations could have major implications for global political balance.

Inter Miami secured a dramatic 5-3 win over FC Cincinnati in an eight-goal Major League Soccer clash at TQL Stadium on May 14, 2026. Lionel Messi was at the heart of the victory, scoring twice, providing one assist, and inspiring a comeback after Miami trailed 3-2 until the 64th minute. His first goal came in the 24th minute from a defensive error, setting the tone for a night dominated by his brilliance.

Cincinnati fought back strongly to take the lead, but Messi’s influence turned the match around. He netted his second goal in the 55th minute from a Luis Suárez pass before Miami sealed the win with three late goals. An 89th-minute effort from Messi was initially thought to be his hat-trick but was later ruled an own goal. The Argentine now has 12 goals this MLS season, ranking second among top scorers, and his career totals stand at 910 goals and 411 assists.

The performance reinforced Messi’s enduring impact in American soccer and his continued dominance despite advancing age.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States of attempting to establish dominance over the global energy market. In an interview with the Indian edition of Russia’s state broadcaster RT, Lavrov claimed that the Trump administration aims to control key energy supply routes and push Russian energy companies out of international markets.

Lavrov stated that the United States has adopted policy documents explicitly referring to American dominance in the global energy sector. He alleged that companies such as Lukoil and Rosneft are being targeted as part of this strategy to remove Russian influence from the market.

The remarks come at a time when both the United States and Iran have strengthened their positions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s energy resources are transported.

Influential American neoconservative thinker and longtime pro-Israel strategist Robert Kagan has warned that the United States is heading toward a 'total defeat' in its ongoing conflict with Iran. Writing in The Atlantic, Kagan argued that the war has inflicted irreparable damage on Washington’s global standing and that no decisive American victory can reverse the losses. He described the conflict as both a military and strategic setback for the US.

Kagan, co-founder of the Project for the New American Century and a key advocate of US military interventionism, drew parallels between the current situation and past crises such as Pearl Harbor and the Vietnam War. He said the balance of power over the Strait of Hormuz has shifted, turning Iran from a regional into a global power. According to him, the war has exposed an unreliable America unable to finish what it starts.

He further warned that the Trump administration now faces limited options, with diminished leverage to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or maintain pressure on Tehran. Kagan also cautioned that the conflict could prove disastrous for Israel, potentially reducing US and Israeli influence across the Middle East.

A proposed $1.5 billion Trump International Hotel and Tower project on Australia’s Gold Coast has been cancelled after relations between local developer Altus Property Group and the Trump Organization deteriorated. Altus executive David Young announced on LinkedIn that his firm had withdrawn from the project, citing the Trump brand’s increasingly negative image among Australians due to U.S. military posturing around Iran and global tensions. He described the decision as purely business-related and denied any personal conflict with the Trump family.

The Trump Organization responded by accusing Altus of failing to meet basic financial obligations despite months of discussions and repeated promises. The project, planned for Surfers Paradise in Queensland, was still listed on Altus’s website with claims of preliminary approval and an August construction start. However, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate confirmed that no formal application had been submitted to the city council.

Griffith University’s Professor Paul Burton noted that many ambitious tower projects in the region have stalled before construction, emphasizing that while AI can generate attractive designs, real-world financing and credibility remain decisive challenges.

Russia has successfully conducted a test launch of its new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile, Sarmat, which President Vladimir Putin described as the world's most powerful. According to Al Jazeera, the announcement was made after a video aired on Russian state television showing Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergei Karakaev informing Putin of the successful launch. Putin stated that the missile would be formally inducted into Russia’s armed forces by the end of the year.

Putin claimed that Sarmat’s warhead capacity is four times greater than comparable Western missiles and that it can travel more than 35,000 kilometers due to its sub-orbital flight capability. The missile, known in the West as “Satan 2,” has been in development since 2011 and is designed to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda system. The report noted that the Sarmat program has faced setbacks, including a major explosion during a 2024 test.

The test comes amid renewed global security concerns following the expiration of the New START arms control treaty between Russia and the United States, leaving both nations free to develop nuclear weapons without formal limits.

In the U.S. state of Georgia, the mayor of the small town of Cohutta has dismissed the entire police department following social media criticism of his wife. Mayor Ron Shinic reportedly terminated all ten police employees after online posts targeted his wife, Pam Shinic. A notice posted at the mayor’s office announced that the police department had been dissolved and advised residents to rely on the county sheriff’s office for law enforcement matters.

The dispute began last month when Pam Shinic, a former employee of the mayor’s office, was accused by several officials of continuing to work despite being dismissed and of having access to confidential information. She had been fired the previous year for allegedly failing to maintain proper office conduct, which led to local gossip in the town of fewer than one thousand residents. Tensions escalated after police officers criticized her on social media.

Following the dismissals, the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office is set to assume policing duties for Cohutta, as the mayor faces growing criticism for his decision.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday posted a graphic on his Truth Social platform showing Venezuela’s map with an American flag and labeling it as the “51st state.” The post, described as provocative, was made while Trump was en route to China for a high-level summit, according to AFP.

A day earlier, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez said her country had “never” considered becoming the 51st U.S. state, even after former leader Nicolás Maduro was detained by U.S. forces in January. Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuela would not accept U.S. intervention or dominance. Trump had told Fox News on Monday that he was considering turning Venezuela into a new U.S. state and claimed to have established “control” over the oil-rich nation for several months.

Since taking office, Rodríguez has sought to normalize relations with Washington, reopening Venezuela’s mining and oil sectors to foreign investment, particularly from U.S. companies. The country’s opposition has called for elections, but Rodríguez said on May 1 that the timing remains uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States does not require China's assistance to end the ongoing war with Iran. He made the remarks to reporters in Washington, D.C., before departing for Beijing. Trump asserted that the United States would win the war against Iran by any means necessary.

Trump’s three-day visit to China comes at a time when his popularity is under pressure due to the Iran war and rising inflation. During the trip, he gave mixed signals about how prominently Iran would feature in his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said they would have a long discussion on the issue and praised Xi’s approach, but moments later downplayed Iran’s importance, claiming Tehran was already under full U.S. control.

The comments highlight uncertainty about how the Iran conflict will influence U.S.-China discussions during Trump’s visit, as both nations navigate complex diplomatic and economic tensions.

The United States is reportedly considering launching a new military operation in Iran, codenamed 'Operation Sledgehammer', if the current ceasefire breaks down. NBC News reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration is reviewing the possibility of resuming the conflict that began on February 28. Discussions are underway to rename the previous campaign, 'Operation Epic Fury', to 'Operation Sledgehammer' should new military action be approved.

According to NBC News, the Trump administration had declared the end of 'Operation Epic Fury' after Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in early April. However, a Pentagon official told the outlet that 'Epic Fury' remains ongoing, with the truce only halting large-scale combat operations. The Pentagon has not issued an immediate response regarding the latest reports.

Diplomatic deadlock between the United States and Iran continues, as Tehran has refused to engage in new talks until five specific 'minimum guarantees' are met.