US, Iran clash in Hormuz as war escalates: What happened, why it matters
The United States and Iran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting fears that the already fragile ceasefire between the warring nations could collapse. The flare-up in fighting on Thursday came as Washington awaits a response from Tehran to its latest proposals for an agreement to end the war, which began with joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Here’s what we know about how significant the latest clashes are and what each side is trying to achieve. What happened in the Gulf on Thursday? US President Donald Trump said three US Navy destroyers were attacked as they moved through the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies are shipped during peacetime, but which Iran has all but closed since the conflict started. Last month, the US launched a naval blockade of Iranian ports in return. “Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump later told reporters that the ceasefire, which began in early April between the US and Iran, was still in effect and sought to play down the exchange. “They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” Trump said in Washington. But Iran’s top joint military command accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another ship. It also said the US carried out air attacks on civilian areas on Qeshm Island, a strategic point at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz believed to house much of Iran’s naval force, and nearby coastal areas in Bandar Khamir and Sirik in southern Iran. Iranian air defences were also triggered over western Tehran. The military said it had responded to these incidents by striking US military vessels east of the strait and south of the port of Chabahar. Advertisement A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational base of Iran’s Armed Forces, claimed the Iranian strikes inflicted “significant damage”, contrasting with the US Central Command claim that none of its assets had been hit. Iran’s Press TV later reported that, following several hours of fire, “the situation on Iranian islands and coastal cities by the Strait of Hormuz is back to normal now”. It remains unclear which side started Thursday’s clashes but the two sides have occasionally exchanged gunfire since the ceasefire took effect on April 8, with Iran hitting targets in Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates. On Friday, the UAE Ministry of Defence said that “the audible blasts reported throughout the nation stem from active operations to intercept and engage incoming missiles and drones coming from Iran”. Since the war began, Iran has frequently targeted US military assets and infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf countries, with the UAE taking the largest share of hits. Earlier this week, the UAE said Iranian missiles had been fired at the port in its Fujairah emirate, where an oil refinery caught fire. How significant are the latest clashes? A ceasefire between the US and Iran has been in place since April 8. While a naval standoff has been playing out in the Gulf with Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports, Thursday’s clashes appeared to mark a sharp escalation for the first time since the truce. Former US diplomat and security specialist Donald Jensen characterised the latest naval clash in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday as a “controlled escalation” rather than “mere skirmishes”, arguing that both nations are “trying to show their resolve” while attempting to “settle on a framework on some key issues”, referring to the diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement. Jensen told Al Jazeera that while a resolution is likely between the two, “it’s not going to be the kind of comprehensive agreement that either side wants”, but will instead be “much more limited to focus on the passage through the strait primarily”. He also cautioned that broader diplomatic goals, “especially regarding the nuclear programme in Iran, will have to be put aside for the time being” as the international priority shifts towards getting “the global economy back working”. Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett said US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, has insisted that Washington’s action in the strait on Thursday was a self-defence measure and noted that this statement is consistent with what US officials have been saying all week, as there has been an escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement “Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week said that the United States will be acting in self-defence, and the US president essentially said the same thing in a Truth Social post in just the last couple of hours,” Halkett said. “Like CENTCOM, he said the US has been very successful in the strait. They blame Iran for having to defend US interests, and what’s most interesting is there’s a real difference of opinion whether or not there is damage to US vessels,” she added. Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a US foreign policy think tank, told Al Jazeera that Iran is likely to perceive the latest attacks by the US as an effort to create in the Gulf “what Israel has created in Gaza, in the West Bank and in Lebanon, in which a ceasefire is essentially unilateral”. Parsi noted: “If the US decides to shoot, then that is not, in and of itself, a violation of the ceasefire.” “This situation may be more complex; there’s conflicting stories as to whether the Iranians started shooting first or not. But the idea that something like this could be done … is very difficult for the Iranians to accept,” he said. “Whether there is a chance to go back to a ceasefire and make sure
UK identifies new suspected hantavirus case on remote island
The UK confirms two British cases on board a cruise ship and a suspected infection on the Tristan da Cunha island. Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026 Health authorities are monitoring a growing hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, with a new suspected case identified among a British national on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed on Friday two British cases connected to the outbreak on board the MV Hondius, and said it is assessing an additional suspected infection on Tristan da Cunha. Officials have not released further details about the new case. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Three people – a Dutch couple and a German national – have died after contracting the virus during the voyage. Five infections have been confirmed so far, with several additional suspected cases under investigation. The vessel is due to dock in the Spanish island of Tenerife in the coming days. British passengers who remain asymptomatic will be flown back to the United Kingdom and asked to isolate for 45 days as a precaution. Seven British nationals disembarked earlier in St Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Authorities said two are already isolating in the UK’s mainland, four remain on the island, and one has been traced outside the country. Global risk remains low The World Health Organization said global risk remains low, even though the Andean strain identified in some cases can, in rare instances, spread between people. “This is not coronavirus, this is a very different virus,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO director of epidemic and pandemic management. “This is not the same situation we were in six years ago.” Advertisement Health officials have contacted passengers from at least 12 countries who left the ship earlier in April. Monitoring is under way across multiple regions, including the United States and Singapore, where returning travellers are being tracked or tested despite showing no symptoms. Passengers who left the ship earlier, including travellers from at least 12 countries, have been contacted as part of tracing efforts. ‘It’s very much, we hope, under control’ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US said it is closely monitoring developments and assessed the risk to the US public as extremely low. US authorities have begun tracking individuals who were on the ship. Health departments in Georgia and Arizona are monitoring returning residents who remain asymptomatic, while other states, including California and Texas, have also identified passengers linked to the voyage. Singapore has isolated and is testing two residents who were on board, while a French contact has also been identified without symptoms. US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the outbreak and expressed confidence that it was being contained. “It’s very much, we hope, under control,” Trump said. Asked if people in the US should be concerned about possible spread, he replied: “I hope not.” Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents, though rare cases of human-to-human transmission have been recorded. Despite the deaths linked to the outbreak, health agencies have stressed that the situation remains contained, with no evidence of widespread transmission beyond those directly connected to the cruise. Adblock test (Why?)
FBI’s lack of progress on Israeli killing of journalist ‘troubling’: CPJ
The CPJ says the ‘lack of concrete progress’ in the FBI investigation represents a failure by the US government. Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded a “public progress update” from United States authorities on the FBI probe into the Israeli military’s killing of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, who was shot dead in the occupied West Bank in 2022. In an open letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI chief Kash Patel, the CPJ said on Thursday evening that “the effectively stagnant status of this case is inconsistent with ensuring the security of US citizens anywhere in the world.” It said the “lack of concrete progress” represents a failure by the US government to respond to the “killing of one of its citizens by a foreign military”. It noted that there had been no formal interviews with witnesses, “despite the willingness of multiple witnesses to cooperate”, and no signs of FBI activity to gather evidence in Israel or Palestine. Longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, Abu Akleh, was covering Israeli army raids in the West Bank city of Jenin when she was killed by Israeli forces on May 11, 2022. She was wearing a clearly marked press vest when she was shot dead. Shireen Abu Akleh shows her reporting from Jerusalem on May 22, 2021 [AFP] Israel initially accused Palestinian fighters of her death, but the Israeli military later released a statement saying “it is not possible to unequivocally determine the source of the gunfire which hit” Abu Akleh. It added that there was a “high possibility” that she was hit by Israeli gunfire. Advertisement Many independent investigations conducted by CNN, The Associated Press news agency, and The Washington Post concluded that Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted, the CPJ letter noted. ‘Justice remains elusive’ The CPJ asked for a public update on the status of the investigation, a commitment to a timeline for the investigation, and the public release of its findings. It also said the investigation needs to be “impartial and independent, free from political considerations”. Abu Akleh’s family said in a statement on Thursday, “despite the passage of time, justice remains elusive,” adding that the lack of justice “sends a dangerous message that journalists can be targeted without consequence”. Abu Akleh’s death became a symbol of the wider Palestinian struggle. Murals of her have adorned the cities of the occupied territory as people remember her for her fearless reporting. Since her killing, Israel has killed 258 journalists and media workers, the CPJ reported. Israel has acknowledged killing a number of journalists, alleging they had links to armed groups, accusations their employers deny and the CPJ calls “deadly smears”. “The prevailing culture of complete impunity enjoyed by Israel is a direct factor in the continued targeting of journalists without deterrence,” said Sara Qudah, CPJ’s regional director. “Without an independent investigation and real accountability, such attacks will only continue to escalate, emboldening those who seek to silence the truth through violence.” Adblock test (Why?)
Tennessee approves map dismantling majority-Black district
NewsFeed Tennessee has approved a new congressional map that breaks apart a majority-Black district centred on Memphis, triggering protests inside the state Capitol and accusations of racial gerrymandering. The move could help Republicans strengthen their narrow majority in the US House ahead of November’s midterm elections. Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
The Palestinian shot dead hours before his son was born
NewsFeed Nayef Samaro, 26, left work in Nablus to run errands for his wife, who was hours away from delivering their first son by C-section. He was excited, despite the Israeli army raiding his city. An Israeli soldier shot Nayef in the head, leaving him to bleed out in the street. He never saw his son. Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Oil prices jump as US, Iran trade fire in Strait of Hormuz
Brent crude rises amid clashes in critical waterway. Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026 Oil prices have jumped after clashes between United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz pushed their tenuous ceasefire to the brink. Futures for Brent crude rose as much as 7.5 percent during a volatile trading session on Thursday, before easing as Asia’s markets opened on Friday morning. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The international benchmark stood at $101.12 per barrel as of 03:00 GMT, down from the day’s high of $103.70. The latest rise came after the US and Iran exchanged fire in the critical strait, a conduit for about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies, despite the truce announced between the sides on April 7. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it launched strikes on Iran after three US Navy guided-missile destroyers came under attack from Iranian missiles, drones and small boats in the strait. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters earlier accused the US of violating the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel in the vicinity of the waterway. The Iranian military headquarters also accused the US of targeting civilian areas, including Qeshm Island. US President Donald Trump on Thursday appeared to downplay the clashes, saying the ceasefire remained in effect, while Iran’s state-run Press TV said the situation had gone “back to normal”. Shipping in the strait has been at a near standstill since late February amid the threat of Iranian attacks on the massive oil tankers that usually transport much of the world’s energy supplies. Brent prices are up about 40 percent compared with before the war amid an estimated shortfall in daily production of 14.5 million barrels. Advertisement Asian stock markets opened lower on Friday amid the heightened tensions, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225, South Korea’s KOSPI and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index each falling more than 1 percent. On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 fell about 0.4 percent overnight after hitting an all-time high the previous day. Adblock test (Why?)
The Gaza journalist killed on the day his daughter was born
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – May 7, 2025, was the day Amal Sobeih’s daughter was born. It was also the day her husband was killed. Yahya Sobeih saw little Sana come into the world. At six in the morning, he took Amal to the hospital as she struggled through labour pains. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list At the time, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza was still raging, and military strikes across the enclave had not stopped. But the couple were filled with excitement as they prepared to welcome their third child, and the first sister to their two sons, Baraa and Kenan, who were four and three at the time. Amal explains that doctors told her she needed an emergency caesarean section after she arrived in the hospital, but aside from that, the delivery went smoothly. “It was a perfect day at the beginning … the delivery went quickly, the baby was healthy, and everyone was happy,” Amal says. “Yahya was overjoyed. He carried his daughter and kept telling everyone, ‘My beautiful princess is here.’” He went on to spend several hours with his wife and newborn daughter. He checked on them, recited the Islamic call to prayer into the baby’s ears, took photos of her, and welcomed relatives who arrived to congratulate him. Before leaving, Yahya told Amal he would step out briefly and return soon. “He asked me to rest and take care of myself. He said he would check on our two boys at home and bring some supplies for the baby, then come back so we could choose a name together,” Amal recalls. “Unfortunately, I did not know that would be the last time we would ever see Yahya.” Advertisement Yahya, who worked as a journalist, survived for five hours after the birth of his baby daughter, whose photo he proudly shared on social media while holding her in his arms. Later that day, Yahya was killed in an Israeli air strike targeting a commercial area in central Gaza City. The strike killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more. Sana, whose birth last year coincided with the death of her father, Yahya Sobeih, at her family home in central Gaza City [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Shocking news Relatives gathered around Amal in the hospital were unsure how to break the news to her, so soon after she had given birth. Their only concern was how they would tell her while she remained in such a fragile physical and emotional state after delivery. But she knew something was up. “There were constant phone calls, tense faces, conversations that suddenly stopped whenever I came close. Even the medical staff kept checking on me, and my mother was whispering all the time,” Amal says. “I kept asking my mother, ‘Is something wrong? What’s happening?’ But nobody answered me clearly. Everyone spoke in a strange way,” she explains. “I picked up my phone and immediately called Yahya. I called more than 15 times, but he never answered, which was unlike him. He always answered me immediately or at least sent a message.” She only found out what had happened after she accessed the internet. “The headline appeared right in front of me: ‘Journalist Yahya Sobeih killed five hours after welcoming his newborn daughter,’” Amal says through tears. “I felt the blood freeze in my veins. I screamed uncontrollably because I could not believe it. I felt like I was losing my mind.” Yahya had been attacked while distributing sweets to relatives and friends in celebration of his daughter’s birth. Among those killed with him were his cousin, his closest friend and his brother-in-law – the same people who had been in the hospital only hours earlier congratulating him, holding the baby and taking photos. Amal says the shock was not only in losing him, but also in being unable to say goodbye. Still recovering from surgery, she was forced to remain lying in bed for hours. “I just wanted to see him one last time … to touch him, to say goodbye … but I couldn’t.” Yahya Sobeih was killed five hours after his daughter was born. He was able to hold her and take photographs with her before leaving the hospital [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] A year of grief Amal had already lost her brother, his wife, and their three children in the war, as well as her sister and her four children, all killed in Israeli attacks. Advertisement But Amal calls the past 12 months, since the death of Yahya, “the year of grief”. She says she has battled through not one war, but two: the ongoing military conflict itself and the struggle of raising her children alone. Yahya’s sudden absence forced Amal into a reality she had never imagined, even though he had often prepared her for the possibility that he could be killed at any moment because of his work as a field journalist covering the war. “Every time I heard about a journalist being killed, I felt terrified,” Amal says tearfully. “But I never imagined I would lose him.” Only a few months after Yahya’s death, Amal was displaced with her three children to southern Gaza after the Israeli military announced a ground operation in Gaza City last September. She describes the suffering of searching for shelter and living in a tent under harsh conditions with a four-month-old baby and two young boys who were still struggling to understand their father’s absence. “Yahya was a source of support, a wonderful husband and father. We never lacked anything with him around, even during the war,” she says. “During the famine, he searched for food and paid whatever he could for his children. Losing him under such circumstances was unimaginably painful.” Gradually, Amal realised she had to become both mother and father to her children. Despite her grief, she decided to continue her husband’s path and began working for the same media company he worked for. “I try to continue my husband’s message,
Iran war day 69: Tehran ‘reviewing’ US proposals; Israel bombs Beirut
Trump says US-Iran talks are progressing as Tehran reviews a US proposal delivered through Pakistan. Published On 7 May 20267 May 2026 United States President Donald Trump has said the US has held “very good talks” with Iran and suggested a deal to end the conflict could be within reach, as Tehran says it is still reviewing a US proposal delivered through mediator Pakistan. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said the proposal remains “under review” and that Tehran will communicate its response once it has “finalised its views”. Recommended Stories list of 1 itemend of list The diplomatic push comes amid continuing regional tensions, with uncertainty remaining over whether the negotiations can produce a breakthrough after weeks of military escalation and political threats between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military campaign by bombing Beirut in the first strike on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire, widely seen as fragile, came into force on April 17. Here is what we know: In Iran Iran reviewing US proposal: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei said a US proposal to end the war is still “under review” by Tehran. Iran will convey its views to key mediator Pakistan after “finalising its views”, Baghaei told the ISNA news agency. Iranian speaker mocks US operations: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf ridiculed recent military operations against Tehran, joking on social media that “Operation Trust Me Bro failed” and that Washington had now returned to “Operation Fauxios”. War Diplomacy Iran seeks China’s help: Tehran is looking forward to China’s support for a “new post-war” regional framework following its conflict with the US, said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a post on X. Pakistan PM ‘hopeful’: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator between Iran, the US and Israel, said he was “hopeful” the current momentum of negotiations would lead to peace in the region. Trump pushes for fast Iran deal: Trump is aiming to secure an agreement with Iran before the end of his upcoming trip to China, as negotiators work through a reported 14-point framework via Pakistani mediators. Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett says the compressed timeline suggests the White House believes a breakthrough may be close, while also allowing Trump to project momentum before a high-profile foreign visit. Advertisement In the Gulf US warplane disables Iranian tanker: The US military says a Navy fighter jet fired on and disabled the rudder of an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly tried to breach Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports. In the US Trump predicts quick end to war: Trump says the conflict with Iran “will be over quickly” as Washington pushes for a deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Speaking to supporters, Trump said the US “cannot allow” Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, according to the Reuters news agency. US threatens escalation: Trump threatened to resume bombing in Iran if it did not agree to a deal. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” Trump said in a social media post. In Israel Sirens sound in northern Israel: Israel’s military says it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” launched from Lebanon after warning sirens sounded across northern Israel. In Lebanon Lebanon ceasefire under strain: Israeli forces are carrying out daily air strikes deeper inside Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire, signalling a widening of the conflict beyond the country’s south. Hezbollah steps up attacks: Hezbollah says its fighters carried out 17 targeted strikes against Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire. Global economy Hormuz closure hits global shipping: German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is costing it about $60m a week in fuel and insurance, as companies avoid the waterway over fears of Iranian attacks and potential sanctions linked to IRGC-controlled transit procedures. China banks urged to halt refinery loans: Beijing’s financial regulator has reportedly advised major Chinese banks to pause new loans to five oil refineries sanctioned by the US over alleged links to Iranian oil, according to Bloomberg News. Adblock test (Why?)
French warship moves towards Hormuz for possible defensive mission
Iran says it is reviewing a US proposal that Donald Trump says could bring the war to an end. Published On 7 May 20267 May 2026 A French aircraft carrier is heading south of the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea in preparation for a possible defensive mission aimed at restoring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically critical waterway that has been effectively blocked amid the US-Israel war on Iran. The French Ministry of Armed Forces said on Wednesday the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle was en route to the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s traded oil transited prior to the war. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are leading a multinational mission towards restoring freedom of navigation in the strait, which they say would be entirely defensive and deployed only once the war ended. “[It] may help restore confidence among shipowners and insurers,” Macron said on X. “It remains distinct from the parties at war.” Macron, who spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, said he also intends to raise the matter with United States President Donald Trump. “A return to calm in the Strait will help advance negotiations on nuclear issues, ballistic matters, and the regional situation,” Macron wrote. “Europeans … will play their part.” France is framing the mission as a win-win solution for Iran and the US in an effort to incentivise them to agree. “What we are proposing is that Iran gains passage for its ships through the strait and in return commits to negotiating with the Americans on issues of nuclear materials, missiles, and the region, and we propose that the Americans, for their part, lift their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and, in return, obtain Iran’s commitment to negotiations,” a French presidency official told the AFP news agency. Advertisement The announcement comes as Tehran says it is reviewing a US proposal that Trump says could bring the war to an end. Trump signalled progress in the negotiations on Wednesday, but at the same time threatened to resume bombing if Tehran did not accept the US plan. Iran played down reports that an agreement was close, saying it had yet to present its response to Pakistani mediators. Trump has frequently played up the prospect of an agreement that would end the war, but the two sides remain at odds over a variety of issues, ranging from Iran’s nuclear programme to its control of the strait. The Reuters news agency, citing a Pakistani source and another person briefed on the mediation, reported that the two sides were close to agreeing on a one-page memorandum to formally end the conflict. US media outlet Axios also said the two sides were “getting close” to an agreement on a memorandum, in which Iran would agree not to develop a nuclear weapon and halt enrichment of uranium for at least 12 years, it said. The US would lift sanctions and release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, and both sides would agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days of signing. The spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, said Tehran has yet to provide its response to the US proposal and that “the investigation into the exchanged texts is ongoing”. Adblock test (Why?)
CNN founder Ted Turner dead at 87
Ted Turner, the brash sportsman and entrepreneur whose ambition and instincts led to a media empire that included the groundbreaking news network CNN, has died, CNN reports, citing a press release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87. No cause of his death on Wednesday was given. In September 2018, Turner revealed that he had Lewy body dementia, a degenerative nerve disease. He became a billionaire by taking over his father’s billboard business, buying a television station in the 1970s and parlaying that into what would become a vast, groundbreaking television group. “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid and fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement. He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN,” CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement. “Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world.” Turner became one of the most powerful figures in US media and entertainment, his networks specialising in news, sports, reruns and old movies. But he did not stop there. He added the MGM/UA movie studio to his portfolio before making an even bigger move – merging his Turner Broadcasting System with Time Warner in 1996. Turner headed the new company’s cable networks division and was its leading shareholder, but he struggled to fit into a corporate system after decades of running his own show. He eventually lost control of his networks. He made a name for himself with spectacular business deals, his ownership of professional sports clubs, his marriage to actor Jane Fonda, his leadership of a competitive yachting team, and his devotion to charitable and environmental causes. Advertisement “Ted Turner was a bold man, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and even those who at times strongly disagreed with him respected him,” Brian Kemp, governor of the state of Georgia, where CNN’s main studio is located, said in a social media post. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 1938, Robert Edward “Ted” Turner III went to a military boarding school in Tennessee and then attended Brown University, but was expelled before graduating. Turner took over a faltering family advertising business after his father, despondent over financial problems, committed suicide. Media mogul Ted Turner and his then-wife, actor Jane Fonda, leave the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 18, 1994, after visiting French President Francois Mitterrand [AFP] First 24-hour cable news network After he bought a number of radio stations, Turner’s purchase of a struggling Atlanta station in 1970 was his first move into television. Ten years later, that became the flagship of his nationwide Turner Broadcasting System, the profits from which he used to launch CNN. CNN went on the air in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news network, gaining traction in the United States and later internationally. The launch came as viewers were shifting from broadcast TV to cable, and CNN became a key news source during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, delivering extensive live coverage via satellite. “Ted Turner created an unstoppable media revolution for the BENEFIT of all humankind,” CNN International Anchor Christiane Amanpour said in a social media post. “Throughout nearly 43 years at CNN, working for Ted and his vision has been the proudest achievement of my lifetime.” Ted Turner addresses the CNN World Report Contributors banquet on May 4, 1995, in Atlanta, Georgia, the US [File: John Bazemore/AP Photo] (AP) CNN’s success inspired the creation of other 24-hour news channels, including Fox News, launched by longtime Turner rival Rupert Murdoch, MSNBC, and many more worldwide. Turner’s television empire expanded beyond CNN to include TBS and TNT for sports and entertainment, Turner Classic Movies, and the Cartoon Network, among others. Turner sold back the Hollywood group MGM/UA five months after buying it, while retaining rights to large portions of its catalogue, including MGM films. Adblock test (Why?)