Top World News
Pope Leo XIV sought pastoral role in first year, but sparring with Trump intervened
May 8, 2026 - World 
In his first year as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV seems driven not by the dramatic gesture or tensions that often fueled the papacy of his predecessor, but by a calm, persistent zeal to preach the Gospel and emphasize community and harmony
The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks plant in China rises to 37
May 8, 2026 - World 
The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks plant this week in central China has risen to 37, state media reported
Salvadoran news outlet El Faro says its assets frozen in retaliation for reporting on Bukele
May 8, 2026 - World 
Salvadoran investigative news outlet El Faro has announced that its members’ assets have been frozen
Elaborately decorated skeletons in Catholic churches across Bavaria take some visitors by surprise
May 8, 2026 - World 
Four skeletons, known as catacomb saints or Holy Bodies, have been on display for centuries at the Catholic monastery church of Banz in southern Germany
Trump's China trip sparks chaos as desperate CEOs chase down aides for invites: report
May 8, 2026 - World 
Trump is leaving business executives and CEOs confused and uncertain about whether they're invited to cooperate with China, according to a new report. “The president is ‘wheels up’ in about a week," Sean Stein, the president at the US-China Business Council, told Politico in a Thursday piece, referring to an upcoming summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. "There are still CEOs waiting to find out if they will be part of the president's trip." According to Politico, the White House spent "weeks" deciding how many business executives and CEOs to bring to the summit, and started sending out invitations. The Trump administration is divided over "how much to encourage private sector engagement with its biggest economic rival." It doesn't help that CEOs are saying that the White House is sending "mixed signals," Politico wrote, citing two people briefed by the White House. "Administration officials in recent weeks circulated a draft list of executives from roughly two dozen companies to potentially participate," according to Politico. "However, some officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, pushed for a group closer to half that size." Amid the indecision, "we have multiple CEOs who've been told, 'well maybe you're going to be invited,'" Stein told Politico. "The indecision has left executives interested in participating in the summit in limbo days ahead of the trip," according to Politico reporting. "One prominent American CEO, who does business in China and the U.S., had an aide recently follow up with an administration official to try to join the delegation after getting no response from the White House." "It's hard to get in this time," the official told the CEO.

