Trump lashes out at allies, says securing the Strait of Hormuz is 'not for us'
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump lashed out at allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the U.S. war effort against Iran. The president on Tuesday told them to “go get your own oil” and said it was not America’s job to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the military could end its offensive in two to three weeks and that the U.S. won’t have anything to do with what happens next in the strait, which has been closed by the Islamic Republic. Instead, he told reporters, the responsibility for keeping the vital waterway open will rest with countries that rely on it.
A US journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad and a search is underway
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say an American journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad and security forces are pursuing her captors. The journalist was identified as freelancer Shelly Kittleson by one of the outlets she worked for. A U.S. official blamed the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah. Two Iraqi security officials said the journalist was kidnapped on Tuesday and that she has U.S. citizenship. They said that two cars were involved in the kidnapping, one of which crashed while being pursued near the town of Al-Haswa in Babil province southwest of Baghdad. The journalist was the transferred to a second car that fled the scene. The U.S. Embassy had warned about kidnapping risks to U.S. citizens during the Iran war.
Trump signs order directing creation of a national voter list, a move already facing lawsuit threats
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that aims to tighten voting rules by creating a national list of eligible voters and limiting mail ballots. The order signed Tuesday directs the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Social Security Administration on state-by-state voter lists. It also seeks to stop the Postal Service from sending absentee ballots to people not on approved lists. The order calls for adding barcodes on ballot envelopes and threatens to withhold federal funds from states that do not comply. Democratic election officials in Oregon, Arizona, and Maine quickly promised lawsuits and non-compliance. Legal experts also question the order’s constitutionality.
Citing First Amendment, federal judge blocks Trump order to end funding for NPR and PBS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. The two are media entities that the White House has said are counterproductive to American priorities. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss cited the First Amendment in his decision. The impact was not immediately clear — both because it will likely be appealed and because too much damage to the public-broadcasting system has already been done, both by the president and Congress.
The Dow surges more than 1,100 points as Wall Street soars to its best day since last spring
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks surged to their best day since last spring as doubt swung back to hope on Wall Street about a possible end to the war with Iran. The S&P 500 leaped 2.9% Tuesday for its largest gain since May. Just a day before, worries about the war had sent the main measure of Wall Street’s health more than 9% below its all-time high set early this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,125 points, or 2.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 3.8%. Stocks strengthened after oil prices eased, which also sent yields lower in the bond market.
Tiger Woods says he'll seek treatment after pleading not guilty to DUI
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods says he’ll step away and seek treatment after his SUV crash in Florida. Woods made his comments Tuesday, four days after the crash that led to his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Woods pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in his driving under the influence case. The plea came hours after a sheriff’s report said he had pain pills in his pocket and showed signs of impairment at the crash scene last week. I’s the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, he announced a leave after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando.
Moon rocket and weather are on NASA's side for the first astronaut launch in decades
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Everything seems to be going NASA's way as the countdown proceeds toward a Wednesday launch of astronauts' first trip to the moon in more than half a century. Officials said Tuesday that the rocket is doing well on its Florida pad and the weather looks promising. The four astronauts assigned to the Artemis II mission will become the first lunar visitors since Apollo 17 in 1972. They'll zip around the moon without landing or even orbiting and come straight back. The launch team will begin fueling the 32-story rocket Wednesday morning for an evening send-off.
Judge says Penn must turn over information about Jewish employees in US discrimination probe
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to hand over records about Jewish employees on campus to a federal agency as part of an investigation into antisemitic discrimination. But the judge said Tuesday the school did not have to reveal any employee’s affiliation with a specific group. U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert said employees can refuse to take part in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation but the agency “needs the opportunity to talk to them directly to learn if they have evidence of discrimination.” He mostly upheld a subpoena but said Penn does not have to disclose any worker’s affiliation with a Jewish-related organization.
Italy is out again. The 4-time champion misses 3rd straight World Cup with shootout loss in Bosnia
One of soccer’s historic powers has reached a once-unfathomable low. Four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after getting beat in a penalty shootout with 10 men at 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs. Moise Kean scored early on for Italy but then Azzurri center back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th to send the game into extra time. The defeat added more misery for Italy’s once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Suspension lifted for helicopter pilots who hovered near Kid Rock's home
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Army pilots who hovered two helicopters near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home during a training run while he clapped and saluted have had their suspensions lifted. Hegseth said in a social media post Tuesday that there was “No punishment. No Investigation.” and added “Carry on, patriots.” Earlier, a U.S. Army spokesperson said the crews of the two Apache helicopters were suspended from flying pending an investigation of their actions.
