Sen. Ted Cruz makes Iowa appearance, fueling speculation about another presidential bid
The U.S. senator won the Hawkeye State during the 2016 Republican primaries. This year he used his appearance to blame Democrats for anti-Semitism and call out GOP Trump foes Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Republican Brett Ligon, former Montgomery County DA, wins special election for open Texas Senate seat
A rematch is scheduled for November, as Ligon’s win only puts him in the seat through January. But the former prosecutor will be heavily favored, given the district’s solidly Republican makeup.
Timmy the humpback whale escapes to the North Sea
The whale calf’s repeated stranding off the coast of Germany sparked widespread concern and extensive media coverage. Published On 2 May 20262 May 2026 A humpback whale calf that earned huge media attention and the nickname Timmy after being repeatedly stranded in shallow waters near Germany has been released into the North Sea by rescue team. The operation to save the sea mammal, launched as its health deteriorated, transported Timmy in a water-filled barge and released him off Denmark on Saturday. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Karin Walter-Mommert, one of the private financiers of the operation, said the whale appeared to be swimming freely and in the right direction upon his release, the APF news agency reports. He “should now swim up the Norwegian coast toward the Arctic”, she said. Timmy was first spotted near Germany’s Baltic Sea coast on March 3. He repeatedly got stuck in shallow waters, despite efforts to encourage him back to the deeper sea. Far from his natural habitat of the Atlantic Ocean, the whale became distressed, and the public became invested in his plight as his health deteriorated and experts worried that he would not survive. The stranded whale blows water on a sand bank in Kirchdorf. Germany, April 9, 2026 [Michael Probst]/AP Photo] Several efforts to rescue him, including using inflatable cushions and a pontoon, were unsuccessful, leading German officials to suggest he was doomed. A private initiative to save the animal was then approved by Germany’s Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state, but that sparked debate as to whether it would be best to let him die in peace or push him to return home, an ordeal that could have proved too much for him. Advertisement Timmy developed a skin condition as a result of the Baltic Sea’s low salt content, and would barely move for days at a time, his breathing irregular. The International Whaling Commission said in April that with each stranding causing additional harm, “the chances of survival [had become] negligible”. However, the use of the special barge finally saw Timmy returned to his natural habitat. It is not clear why the whale swam into the Baltic Sea, far from the Atlantic Ocean. Some experts say the animal may have lost its way while swimming after a shoal of herring or during migration. A GPS transmitter was reportedly attached to the whale before his release, suggesting there could be more updates to come, with the case having been furiously followed by online media in particular. Adblock test (Why?)
Why are maritime laws failing to secure the seas?
Wars and territorial disputes are rewriting the rules of global shipping. Wars and territorial disputes are rewriting the rules of global shipping. From the Strait of Hormuz to the Panama Canal, and the Red Sea to the Black Sea, maritime traffic is under increasing threat. Is shipping becoming the new global battleground? And why are the decades-old laws governing the seas failing? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Rockford Weitz – director of the Fletcher Studies programme at Tufts University George Theocharidis – professor of maritime law and policy at the World Maritime University Stavros Karamperidis – associate professor in maritime economics at Plymouth University Published On 2 May 20262 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
The rise of political violence under Trump
Redi Tlhabi speaks to Professor Robert Pape on the rise of political violence in the US. After the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, has the US entered a new age of political violence? The third alleged attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump in recent years follows a series of politically motivated violent incidents last year, including the assassinations of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and Democratic state legislator Melissa Hortman. What is causing the increase in political violence in America? And how much is the Trump administration driving the politically divisive atmosphere with violent rhetoric and lethal foreign policy? This week on UpFront, Redi Tlhabi speaks with Robert Pape, professor of political science at the University of Chicago and author of the upcoming book “Our Own Worst Enemies: America in the Age of Violent Populism”. Published On 2 May 20262 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
‘Intent over money’: Arvind Kejriwal credits policy shift for Punjab’s record 66 percent GST growth
Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor, highlighted a notable economic milestone for Punjab where GST collections of the state surged 66 percent.
India-bound LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti crosses Strait of Hormuz amid US blockade, expected in Visakhapatnam on this date
An Indian vessel carrying several metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and 20-member crew onboard has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
West Bengal Elections 2026: EC orders repolling in Falta constituency over ‘severe electoral offences’
The poll panel said that fresh voting will take place at all 285 polling stations of the constituency on May 21. The timings of the poll will be from 7 am to 6 pm, and counting of votes will take place on May 24.
Abortion pill fight heads to Supreme Court as manufacturer warns of ‘chaos’ after ruling
The legal battle over abortion pills escalated to the Supreme Court on Saturday, as the manufacturer of mifepristone filed an emergency request warning a lower court ruling is already causing “immediate confusion and upheaval” across the country. Danco Laboratories is asking the high court to quickly block a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that blocked mail-order access and reinstated in-person requirements for the drug, arguing the ruling is disrupting access and creating nationwide uncertainty about legality. The ruling directly affects the distribution of mifepristone, Danco’s primary product. Mifepristone is one of two drugs commonly used in medication abortions. The application was directed to Justice Samuel Alito, who handles emergency matters from the 5th Circuit and can either act on his own or refer the request to the full court. The Supreme Court could act at any time. ABORTION PILL MIFEPRISTONE SPARKS NEW PRO-LIFE DEBATE AS SOME DOCTORS STRESS SAFETY CONCERNS In its filing, Danco warned the appeals court’s order is already creating “chaos” in real-world medical settings. “The panel’s ruling injects immediate confusion and upheaval into highly time-sensitive medical decisions,” the company wrote, adding it is forcing “providers, patients, and pharmacies all to guess at what is allowed and what is not.” The filing raises immediate questions, including what happens to existing abortion pill prescriptions, pharmacy dispensing and access to in-person visits. PRO-LIFE GROUP FINDS BIDEN-ERA FDA POLICY IS DRIVING 500 ABORTIONS PER DAY, SAYS TRUMP HAS POWER TO END IT “What happens when patients arrive for scheduled appointments this weekend… or walk into pharmacies… to obtain [the drug] that was prescribed… yesterday?” the filing states. Danco is asking the court to immediately pause the ruling through an administrative stay, then block it longer term while litigation continues. The company also suggested the justices could take up the case on an expedited schedule before the end of the term, a move that could reshape the court’s already packed 2026 docket. The emergency appeal comes just one day after the 5th Circuit issued its ruling, which blocked the mailing of mifepristone and effectively barred pharmacy distribution under the challenged FDA rules, requiring women to obtain the drug in-person from a medical provider. PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT CONFRONTS HIGH ABORTION RATES THREE YEARS AFTER DOBBS “Of course they filed an emergency petition. Big Pharma has gotten extremely rich after the unprecedented and radical deregulation of these dangerous abortion pills,” 40 Days for Life President Shawn Carney told Fox News Digital. “No abortion advocate or anyone from Big Pharma was pushing to send these drugs through the mail just a few years ago, and now they act as if they’re entitled to do so with zero regulation and zero oversight,” Carney added. “This is more evidence the FDA needs to reevaluate how these drugs were approved after years of ER visits from women who take them.” Abortion-rights advocates said the ruling has “upended” access to care nationwide, particularly for patients relying on telemedicine, while legal groups warned it is creating confusion for providers trying to comply with rapidly changing rules. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the decision is “yet another cruel attack on abortion access,” adding that “mifepristone is safe, effective, and essential.” The underlying case is still ongoing in lower courts, but the emergency filing now places the dispute squarely before the Supreme Court in what could become the next major legal showdown over abortion policy. The justices could choose to pause the ruling immediately, allowing the current system to remain in place while the case proceeds, or let the restrictions take effect nationwide. Danco Laboratories did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The United States of Conspiracy
Another assassination attempt on Donald Trump reveals mistrust in the media and conspiracy theories fill the gap. An assassination attempt at the White House correspondents’ dinner underscored the spectacle, chaos and violence that have defined Donald Trump’s second presidency. As journalists rushed to report what had happened, a parallel narrative of conspiracy was already taking shape online. Conspiracy theories get far more currency than they merit – and they are a by-product of an information landscape that has been muddied by Trump. Contributors:John Nichols – Executive editor, The NationNiall Stanage – White House columnist, The HillAmber Duke – Editor-in-chief, Daily CallerSuzanne Kianpour – Cohost, Global Power Shifts podcast On our radar Russia’s effort to tighten internet restrictions and throttle Telegram has caused a furious public backlash. The uproar has forced President Vladimir Putin to admit the measures went too far. Ryan Kohls reports. Israel’s information war on Lebanon Throughout two years of war, Israeli forces have used drones, AI-powered targeting and the infiltration of Lebanese communications devices and the networks they rely on – to control the population, spread terror and kill people. And it has escalated its information war, using all kinds of propaganda to deepen fear and divisions within Lebanese society. We speak to Justin Salhani about the tactics Israel is using in Lebanon. Featuring:Justin Salhani – Senior producer, Al Jazeera Digital Published On 2 May 20262 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)