Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as the US maintains its blockade
BEIRUT (AP) — Iran says it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels. But questions lingered Saturday about how much freedom ships actually had to transit the waterway as Tehran maintained its grip on who got through and threatened to close it again if the U.S. kept in place its blockade of Iranian ships and ports. Iran’s Friday announcement came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold. Iran's foreign minister says ships will use routes designated by the Islamic Republic in coordination with Iranian authorities. U.S. President Donald Trump initially celebrated Iran's announcement but then said the U.S. blockade would continue.
Oil prices drop 9% and Wall Street rallies to a record after Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices dropped back to where they were in the early days of the Iran war, and U.S. stocks raced to another record. The S&P 500 leaped 1.2% Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is open again for commercial tankers carrying crude. The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped as many as 1,100 points before paring its gain and ended with a jump of nearly 870 points, or 1.8%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.5%. A freer flow of oil could take pressure off prices not only for gasoline but also for groceries and all kinds of other products. Oil prices fell 9%.
The truce in Lebanon is key to ending the wider Iran war, but challenges remain
BEIRUT (AP) — A truce took hold Friday between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, providing relief on both sides of the border and an opening for Iran and the United States to reach a deal to end the wider war. The ceasefire appears to have paved the way for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing the global energy crisis. But major obstacles remain, as Hezbollah has not formally agreed to the truce and wants Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israel says it is “not finished” dismantling the Iran-backed militant group and shows no sign of ending its occupation.
Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after chaotic votes in House
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30 cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.
Pope urges Africa's youth to resist dual temptations of migration and corruption in Cameroon
DOUALA, Cameroon (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is encouraging young people in Cameroon to resist the temptation to migrate and to stay at home and fight corruption. Leo delivered the twin messages during a meeting with students at the Catholic University of Central Africa. They’re themes Leo has highlighted during his visit to Cameroon, the second leg of his four-nation African trip. He leaves Saturday for Angola, another country blessed with oil and other natural resources, but where a third of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day.
White House chief of staff meets with Anthropic CEO over its new AI technology
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss the company's new AI model, Mythos. The model has gained attention for its advanced capabilities and potential use by the federal government. A White House official says the administration is engaging with AI labs about their models. The meeting Friday follows tensions between the Trump administration and Anthropic over the use of AI technology in federal agencies. Anthropic has limited the Mythos model's use to select customers due to its ability to surpass human cybersecurity experts in finding vulnerabilities.
The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is handing a win to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana. The unanimous procedural decision gives the companies a new day in federal court after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay upward of $740 million to clean up damage to the state’s coastline, one of multiple similar lawsuits. The companies were backed by the Trump administration and argued that the case belongs in federal court because they began oil production and refining during World War II as U.S. contractors. Louisiana’s coastal parishes have lost more than 2,000 square miles of land over the past century.
Patients and dental community mourn Dr. Cerina Fairfax, killed by Virginia's ex-lieutenant governor
Patients and colleagues in the Virginia dental community are remembering Dr. Cerina Fairfax as a devoted mother, a caring dentist and the rock at the center of her family, after she was killed by her estranged husband, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. Virginia Rep. Jennifer McClellan knew Dr. Fairfax through her husband’s campaign and the time he spent in office as lieutenant governor and said her two teenaged children were “the people she cherished most.” Leaders in the state’s dental community praised her accomplishments and commitment to patients.
Defense team in Charlie Kirk murder case says courtroom cameras are unfairly tilting case
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Defense witnesses in the prosecution of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk say conjecture about the case is making it impossible to have a fair trial. The testimony came as attorneys for Tyler Robinson on Friday urged a Utah a judge to ban cameras from the courtroom. Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow want cameras allowed and say they promote transparency. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson if he is convicted in the Sept. 10 shooting of Kirk. The conservative activist had been addressing a crowd of thousands on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
What to know about singer D4vd's arrest in 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's killing
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seven months after a 14-year-old girl’s body was found in D4vd’s towed SUV, authorities say the alt-pop singer has been arrested on suspicion of killing her. Los Angeles police say detectives arrested the 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Burke, on Thursday on suspicion of murder in the investigation of the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities had not publicly named Burke as a suspect until his arrest. Investigators are expected to present a case to prosecutors on Monday, police said. Burke’s lawyers have declared his innocence.
