US Navy seizes an Iranian-flagged ship near Strait of Hormuz and Tehran vows swift response
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. says it has attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz that tried to get around its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's joint military command says Tehran will respond soon and calls it an act of piracy. It’s the first interception since the U.S. naval blockade began last week. The incident raises questions about the fragile ceasefire that expires within days. Trump's announcement earlier on Sunday about another round of U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan this week is now in question. Iran hasn't confirmed its attendance. The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil trade, and prices are rising again.
Oil prices rise anew after a US-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz strands tankers
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising in early trading as a standoff between Iran and the U.S. prevented tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz. The price of U.S. crude oil increased 6.4% to $87.90 per barrel an hour after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 5.8% to $95.64 per barrel. The market reaction followed more than two days of lifted hopes and dashed expectations involving the strait. Crude prices plunged more than 9% on Friday after Iran said it would fully reopen the strait to commercial traffic. The country's government reversed course on Saturday after the U.S. vowed to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Man kills 7 of his children plus another child in shooting in Louisiana neighborhood
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Officials and relatives say a man killed eight children, including seven of his own, and shot their mothers in two homes in Shreveport, Louisiana. The violence early Sunday was one of the nation’s deadliest recent mass shootings. Authorities say the children ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old. Another child jumped off the roof of the house and was expected to survive. The man died after a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him. A cousin said one of the women was married to the shooter, and they had been arguing about a separation and were due in court Monday.
Businesses can claim refunds starting Monday for Trump tariffs declared unconstitutional
NEW YORK (AP) — A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court eventually struck down is scheduled to launch on Monday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says importers and their brokers will be able to begin claiming refunds online beginning at 8 a.m. It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might eventually lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for some or all of the tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in late February that President Donald Trump usurped Congress’ taxation authority when he set double-digit import tax rates on products from almost every other country.
The center-left coalition of former President Radev will win Bulgaria's election, exit poll suggests
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — An exit poll in Bulgaria suggests the center-left Progressive Bulgaria coalition led by ex-President Rumen Radev will win the country's parliamentary election. The poll by Trend research group shows Radev’s coalition earning 39.2% support, edging out the center-right GERB party of its veteran leader, Boyko Borissov, which is expected to capture 15.1% in Sunday's vote. Despite the huge gap between the two groups, the predicted percentage would not be enough for Radev to form a one-party government, and he will face the uphill task of looking out for partners to govern. The exit poll also predicts that voter turnout stood at 43.4%, and six parties could pass the 4% threshold to enter a fragmented parliament.
Wisconsin authorities put total arrests from clashes at beagle breeding facility at about 25
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say around 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. Officers fired rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheriff's office reported a calmer protest on Sunday with around 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
Los Angeles woman arrested on Iranian arms trafficking charge
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a 44-year-old Los Angeles woman was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of helping Iran traffic weapons to Sudan, which is in its fourth year of a bloody civil war. First U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Sunday on social media that the woman will face charges that she brokered the sale of “drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition” between Iran and the Sudanese Armed Forces. She is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. The defendant is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday.
Fears of looser standards as the FBI and Justice Department scramble to fill a depleted workforce
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI and Justice Department are scrambling to rebuild a depleted workforce after a wave of departures over the last year. In response, leaders are easing hiring requirements and accelerating recruitment in ways that some current and former officials see as a lowering of long-accepted standards. The FBI has turned to social media campaigns to attract applicants, while also condensing training for candidates from other federal agencies and relaxing internal requirements for support staff seeking to be agents. The Justice Department has opened the door to hiring prosecutors right out of law school to help fill vacancies in U.S. attorney’s offices.
Trump wants to stop states from regulating AI. This Utah Republican isn't listening
RIVERTON, Utah (AP) — Doug Fiefia once worked at Google. Now he's a Utah state representative running to be a state senator. And like some other tech employees who've gone into politics, he's made regulating the artificial intelligence industry a campaign centerpiece. That's put him on a collision course with President Donald Trump’s administration. Earlier this year, it helped block the lawmaker's state proposal requiring companies to include child safety protocols. The White House wants a single national AI standard. But with no progress on that front in Congress, state lawmakers are struggling to address concerns about the game-changing technology.
It'll be an international MVP for the NBA with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Wembanyama finalists
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might be adding a couple more trophies to his collection. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has a shot at doing the same. And for the eighth consecutive year, the MVP will be an international one. Gilgeous-Alexander — the reigning NBA MVP — is one of the finalists for this year’s top individual honor, along with Denver’s Nikola Jokic and the Spurs’ Wembanyama, who is also a finalist for defensive player of the year.
