US fires on and disables 2 more Iranian tankers as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says its forces fired on and disabled two Iranian oil tankers Friday after exchanging fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz overnight. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, reported another missile and drone attack Friday. The violence further undermines a month-old ceasefire that U.S. officials insist remains in effect. Iran says the U.S. strikes violate the truce. Washington is awaiting Tehran's response to the latest U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28.
Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for the Canary Islands
MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities are preparing to receive over 140 passengers and crew from a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands. Health officials plan careful evacuations when the ship arrives in Tenerife this weekend. At least three passengers have died, and five who left the ship are known to be infected with hantavirus. The World Health Organization says the risk to the wider public is low. Health authorities are tracking passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was detected. None of the remaining passengers or crew is currently symptomatic.
Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats' redrawn US House maps, giving Republicans a win
The Virginia Supreme Court has struck down a Democratic congressional redistricting plan that had won voter approval. The court’s 4-3 decision Friday marked a major setback for Democrats in a nationwide redistricting battle with Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. The plan approved April 21 by voters could have helped Democrats win up to four additional U.S. House seats. But the court said state lawmakers violated procedural requirements when referring the plan to the ballot. A recent U.S, Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act has been used by Republicans in several Southern states to try to eliminate congressional districts held by Black Democratic lawmakers.
First batch of UFO files is released as Trump urges the public to draw its own conclusions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has begun releasing files on UFOs, tapping into public curiosity about unidentified phenomena. The files feature intriguing sightings, such as a bright object making 90-degree turns over Kazakhstan and Buzz Aldrin observing a light source during Apollo 11. The release aims to promote transparency, though experts warn these videos can be misinterpreted. Some members of Congress are pushing for further disclosure, while the Pentagon's recent report found no evidence of alien technology. President Donald Trump says in a Truth Social post on Friday the release of the files allows people to decide for themselves, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?”
US employers defy economic shock from Iran war and add a surprisingly strong 115,000 jobs in April
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers delivered a surprising 115,000 new jobs last month despite an economic shock from the Iran war. Hiring was better than the 65,000 that economists had expected, though it decelerated from the 185,000 jobs created in March. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.3%. The war has caused the biggest disruption of global oil supplies in history and sent average U.S. gasoline prices surging past $4.50 a gallon this week. But the conflict hasn’t done much damage to the American job market so far.
US stocks rise toward records as solid data on the job market overshadows higher oil prices
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward records following the latest sign that the nation’s job market is doing better than economists expected. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% Friday and was on track for an all-time high after a report said employers added more jobs last month than expected, even though the war with Iran is raising fuel costs and uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 15 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.3% toward its own record. Monster Beverage, Akamai Technologies and other big companies reporting better profits than analysts expected helped lead the market. Stocks rose even as oil prices climbed.
Canvas system used by thousands of schools is back online after a cyberattack disrupted studies
A system that thousands of schools and universities use to support instruction was back online Friday after it went down during a cyberattack, creating chaos as students tried to study for finals. The hacking group named ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach at Canvas, said Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emisoft. Instructure, the company behind Canvas, said in an update late Thursday that the system was available for most users. An expert says the hacking group posted online that nearly 9,000 schools worldwide were affected, with billions of private messages and other records accessed.
Evidence points to human remains at home linked to Kristin Smart's killing, sheriff says
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (AP) — A California sheriff says that evidence suggests human remains were present at a home connected to the man convicted of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Friday that they cannot say whether the remains are those of Smart. The office served a warrant this week on the home of Susan Flores but has not said what prompted the search. Her son Paul Flores was convicted in 2022 of killing Smart, whose body was never found. Scientists took soil samples from outside the house and in a neighbor’s yard this week.
Joni Lamb, who started of one of the largest Christian TV networks, has died
Joni Lamb, who cofounded one of the world's largest Christian TV networks with her late husband, has died. The Daystar Television Network said she died Thursday after suffering from serious health issues. She was 65. The network says its ministry will continue and that Lamb made sure a leadership team was in place. Based in the Dallas area, the Daystar Television Network says it is broadcast in more than 200 countries. Joni Lamb was the network's president and could be seen on the air hosting her signature daily women’s show.
NFL and referees agree on a 7-year collective bargaining agreement, avoiding potential work stoppage
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association have agreed on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that avoids a potential work stoppage and use of replacement officials. The deal runs through the 2032 NFL season. The league began the onboarding process for replacement officials last month because negotiations weren’t progressing. But they won’t be necessary.
