Iran and US harden positions as Tehran keeps grip on Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States hardened their positions as diplomacy aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the war appeared to be faltering. Tehran moved to formalize its control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz as Washington prepared for the arrival of combat forces that could be used on the ground in the Islamic Republic. Israel on Thursday carried out a wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, and Iran kept up its attacks on Gulf neighbors, with Saudi Arabia intercepting multiple drones, the United Arab Emirates’ air defenses also worked to intercept incoming fire, and a Bahrain extinguishing near its international airport.
As juries turn against social media for harming kids, Big Tech's invincibility starts to show cracks
It’s too soon to tell if this week’s jury decisions will lead to fundamental changes in how social media treats its young users. But the dual verdicts signal a changing tide of public perception against tech companies that is likely to lead to more lawsuits and regulation. For years, they have argued that the harms their platforms cause to children are the unintentional and inevitable consequences of broader societal issues or bad actors taking advantage of safeguards. These verdicts show public’s growing willingness to hold the companies responsible for harms and demand meaningful changes in how they operate.
Missed paychecks and airport delays: Pressure mounts on Congress to end the funding shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressure is mounting on Congress to end the funding shutdown. It's resulted in travel disruptions, missed paychecks and even warnings of airport closures. But lawmakers have yet to resolve the underlying issue of reining in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement operations. Senators are expected to vote Thursday on a Republican proposal that would fund the Transportation Security Administration and much of the Department of Homeland Security, except the immigration enforcement and removal operations. But it’s expected to fail. Democrats argue the GOP plan falls short in putting guardrails on federal officers engaged in immigration sweeps. Congress is set to leave town by week’s end for its own spring break recess as calls intensify for an end to the 41-day stalemate.
Justice Department settles lawsuit from Trump ally Michael Flynn for $1.2 million, AP source says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has settled for roughly $1.2 million a lawsuit with Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump who pleaded guilty during the Republican’s first term to lying about phone conversations with a top Russian diplomat but was later pardoned. Court papers filed Wednesday do not reveal the settlement amount, but a person familiar with the matter, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose nonpublic information, confirmed the total as about $1.2 million. The settlement resolves a 2023 lawsuit in which Flynn sought at least $50 million and asserted that the criminal case against him amounted to a malicious prosecution. It also represents a stark turnabout in position for the Justice Department.
Mangled plane in LaGuardia crash is towed from runway as most injured passengers leave hospital
NEW YORK (AP) — All but four of the passengers injured in Sunday’s deadly collision between an Air Canada plane and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport have been released from the hospital. The airline made the announcement Wednesday, as crews began towing the wreckage of the plane off a LaGuardia runway. Workers were seen lifting the jet’s tail end onto a large dolly, which was then towed by two vehicles using long tethers. The plane originated in Montreal and was carrying 76 people during Sunday's collision, which killed two pilots. Roughly 40 people were treated at hospitals for injuries, some serious.
Conservatives gather for CPAC with the right openly divided over the Iran war
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Conservatives are holding one of their largest annual gatherings as President Donald Trump faces a tough moment and a growing rift over the Iran war. The Conservative Political Action Conference begins Wednesday near Dallas. While Trump maintains broad support among conservatives, the Iran war is more than a wrinkle for activists drawn to his “America First” campaign pledge against getting involved in foreign conflicts. Some featured speakers at the conference back the war, but others warn it could drain support from voters ahead of the midterm elections. Trump ally Steve Bannon calls the Iran conflict risky for conservatives while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz defends Trump’s decision as “exactly right.”
Trump will travel to Beijing for rescheduled China trip May 14-15, after delay due to Iran war
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15. Trump had been scheduled to travel to China this month but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. The Republican president announced a rescheduled trip even though the war in Iran continues and the U.S. is pressing Tehran to accept a ceasefire proposal. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the president plans to host Xi for a White House visit later this year.
Teens get probation after using AI to create fake nudes of classmates
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Two teenage boys have been given probation after using artificial intelligence to create hundreds of fake nude photos of their classmates. The boys were 14 at the time. Authorities said the boys took images of the girls from school photos, yearbooks, Instagram, TikTok and FaceTime chats, and morphed them with images of adults depicting nudity or sexual activity. At least 59 girls were among the victims, many of them classmates with the boys at Lancaster Country Day School. Many called for the toughest sentence on Wednesday as they described their trauma. The judge said the boys' records will be expunged in two years if they don't reoffend.
Savannah Guthrie in NBC News interview appeals for help finding her missing mother
Savannah Guthrie says in a tearful interview on NBC that "'somebody needs to do the right thing” and provide information that leads to a resolution of the case of her missing 84-year-old mother. Guthrie says she wakes up every night wondering about the terror that her mother went through. The “Today” show aired a portion of Hoda Kotb’s interview with her colleague Wednesday and says it will air more on Thursday and Friday — the first interview Guthrie has given since her mother went missing nearly two months ago. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped or otherwise taken against her will.
Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of Rihanna and to assaulting the superstar’s family
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman has pleaded not guilty to firing shots at Rihanna’s home while the singer and her family were there. Thirty-five-year-old Ivanna Lisette Ortiz of Orlando, Florida, appeared in court in Los Angeles to enter the plea. She is charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna and 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against people including Rihanna's partner A$AP Rocky and their three young children. According to a newly public police report, three bullets hit an Airstream trailer while Rihanna and Rocky were inside. Another hit the exterior wall of a nursery where the three kids and their nanny were.
