Pakistani delegation meets in Tehran hoping for more US-Iran talks before ceasefire ends
CAIRO (AP) — Pakistan’s army chief is meeting with Iranian officials for talks in Tehran in the latest diplomatic move to ease tensions in the region and arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran. That’s according to the Pakistani military, which said Wednesday that the delegation included the country’s interior minister and other senior security officials. The military said the visit was “part of the ongoing mediation efforts,” but gave no further details. Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. will ramp up its infliction of economic pain on Iran. Bessent said the effort would be the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.
How a US blockade on Iran has sanctioned ships turning around
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Some Iran-linked or sanctioned vessels that have left the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz have stopped or turned around. They appear to have jammed or faked their locations in some instances, complicating an uncertain and risky shipping situation. The head of U.S. Central Command says the blockade that started Monday “has been fully implemented" and that U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea. The blockade could put serious pressure on the Iranian economy. The U.S. military says 10 vessels have complied with directions to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or Iran’s coastal area.
Senate Republicans reject effort to halt Iran war, but some eye future war powers votes
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate has rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trump’s war in Iran. The Senate on Wednesday turned aside a resolution that would require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress authorizes further action. It was the fourth time this year the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to Trump in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified. Republicans say they will keep faith in Trump’s wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the high stakes of withdrawal. But GOP lawmakers are also anxious for the conflict to end.
Wall Street hits a record as S&P 500 continues its 2-week rally on hopes for an end to the Iran war
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks have hit a record following their big rally over the last two weeks. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% Wednesday and eclipsed its prior all-time high set in January. After falling nearly 10% below its record in late March, the S&P 500 has roared 10% higher on hopes the global economy can avoid a worst-case scenario because of the Iran war. Hopes remain high as mediators moved closer to extending the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and restarting negotiations. Some caution remains in markets still. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.1%, and oil prices drifted up and down through the day. The Nasdaq composite gained 1.6%.
Jury finds that Ticketmaster and Live Nation had an anticompetitive monopoly over big concert venues
NEW YORK (AP) — A jury has found that concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary engaged in an anticompetitive monopoly. The New York jury decided Wednesday on claims from dozens of U.S. states that the entertainment ticketing behemoth was a monopoly that cost concertgoers and sports fans. Live Nation Entertainment owns, operates or controls booking for hundreds of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is widely considered the world’s largest ticket-seller for live events. The civil case, initially led by the U.S. federal government, accused Live Nation of using its reach to smother competition. Live Nation said in a statement that the verdict was not the last word on the matter and promised appeals. A lawyer for the states called it a “great day for antitrust law.”
Homeland Security worker and another woman are killed in a series of Atlanta-area attacks
ATLANTA (AP) — A man has been charged in a string of attacks near Atlanta over a matter of hours that left two women dead and a man in critical condition. One of the women, Lauren Bullis, worked for the Department of Homeland Security. Her killing Monday led Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin to issue a statement raising concerns that the 26-year-old defendant, U.K.-native Olaolukitan Adon Abel, was granted U.S. citizenship in 2022, when Democrat Joe Biden was president. Mullin cataloged a litany of the defendant’s previous alleged crimes, but he didn't specify whether they happened before Adon Abel was granted citizenship. Authorities are looking into whether the victims were targeted at random.
Prosecutors sought access to Federal Reserve building as Trump threatens to fire Powell
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors made an unannounced visit this week to a construction site at Federal Reserve headquarters that is the focus of an investigation into a $2.5 billion renovation project, according to two people familiar with the visit. Two prosecutors and an investigator from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office were turned away on Tuesday by a building contractor and referred to Fed attorneys, one of the people said. The two people familiar with the visit spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation.
Trump's budget director defends White House plan for massive boost in military spending
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s budget director is telling Congress that it'll take a massive upfront investment to ramp up U.S. weapons production and build more ships, planes and drones. Russell Vought was on Capitol Hill for a hearing Wednesday before the House Budget Committee. His testimony jump-starts the White House’s effort to increase defense spending to nearly $1.5 trillion in the next fiscal year, up from nearly $1 trillion this year, while also cutting health research, heating assistance and scores of other domestic programs by about 10% overall. Democratic lawmakers say asking for a more than 40% increase in defense while cutting other programs shows that the administration's priorities are “out of whack.”
Justice Jackson chides Supreme Court conservatives over 'oblivious' pro-Trump emergency orders
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has delivered an attack on her conservative colleagues’ use of emergency orders to benefit the Trump administration. The court’s newest justice, Jackson delivered a lengthy assessment of roughly two dozen court orders issued last year that allowed President Donald Trump to put in place controversial policies on immigration, steep federal funding cuts and other topics, after lower courts ruled them likely illegal. While designed to be short-term, those orders have largely allowed Trump to move ahead — for now — with key parts of his sweeping agenda. Jackson spoke for nearly an hour on Monday at Yale Law School, which posted a video on Wednesday.
MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day as every player wears No. 42 on anniversary of his historic debut
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day with every player, coach and umpire wearing his No. 42 to mark the 79th anniversary of the infielder breaking the sport’s color barrier. Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He went on to win Rookie of the Year honors, become a six-time All-Star and the 1949 National League MVP. He played in six World Series, and won his only championship in 1955 with the Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets gathered at Robinson's statue in centerfield to reflect on his legacy at Dodger Stadium.
