US & World News

More than 20 states sue over new global tariffs Trump imposed after his stinging Supreme Court loss

Some two dozen states are challenging President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs in court. On Thursday, the states filed a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. Democratic attorneys general leading the suit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world. Trump has said the tariffs are essential to address trade deficits. He imposed duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he imposed last year under an emergency powers law. The new suit argues that law was intended to be used only in specific, limited circumstances.

Elimination of April transfer portal window could cause return of traditional spring football games

The disappearance of the spring transfer portal window offers the opportunity for a reappearance of spring football games in campuses across the country. Playing a game in front of fans to end spring practice had become a fading tradition in the age of conference networks and the transfer portal. Coaches feared the possibility that rival staffs could watch televised spring games and turn them into scouting opportunities. That’s not as much of a concern now that college football no longer has a second transfer portal window in April.

Doubles and triples are dwindling in MLB. Blame better outfielders and sluggers

The number of doubles and triples in the major leagues went down again last year. There were 7,745 doubles, down from 7,771 in 2024 and 8,254 a decade ago in 2016, according to Sportradar. Triples dropped to 628, compared to 697 in 2024 and 873 in 2016. In an effort to create more action on the basepaths, Major League Baseball made the bases bigger when it changed some of its rules before the 2023 season. There was an increase in doubles, triples and steals that same year before doubles and triples resumed their downward trend. Defensive positioning and ballpark dimensions are two of the biggest factors in the decline.

Denmark is set to explore if gastronomy can be recognized as an art form

Denmark is debating whether top-level cooking counts as art, and the country’s most theatrical restaurants sit at the center of it. The culture ministry is exploring formal recognition for gastronomy. Some chefs say food can carry ideas, emotion, and social messages, like modern performance art. They also say art status could unlock public funding and private grants. But others say food has a different purpose which must be consumed. Art voices say chefs could start competing for the same cultural money.

Aston Martin's car risks giving drivers 'nerve damage' and is unlikely to finish F1 season-opener

Aston Martin has predicted it is unlikely to finish Formula 1’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix without its drivers risking permanent nerve damage. Adrian Newey is the F1 car design great who’s heading into his first race as Aston Martin’s team principal. He says on Thursday the team’s Honda power unit causes vibrations which could damage the hands of drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Newey adds neither can tolerate even half of the 58-lap race distance. Aston Martin had a poor preseason and was often slower even than new team Cadillac. Aston Martin logged the fewest laps of all 11 teams.

Iran's barrage of attacks across the Persian Gulf shows regional chaos is key to its strategy

For years, Iran’s theocratic government warned it would blanket the Middle East with missile and drone fire if it felt its existence was threatened. Now, it's doing just that. Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war Saturday, Iran has unleashed thousands of missiles and drones at Israel, American military bases and embassies, and energy facilities across the Gulf. It's basic strategy is to instill fear about the dangers of a widening war in hopes that allies of the U.S. and Israel will apply enough pressure to halt their campaign. There is a risk, though, that the barrage-thy-neighbors strategy could backfire.

'Christ is king' becomes a loaded phrase in US political debates, especially on the right

On its own, the phrase “Christ is king” sums up a core tenet of the Christian faith, that Jesus is the divine ruler of the universe. Many churches celebrate a Christ the King Sunday each year. But the ancient proclamation can morph into something political, controversial or even sinister, depending on the context. In recent years, “Christ is king” and similar phrases have been chanted at political rallies, posted on social media and proclaimed in speeches by voices on the right. At times the phrase is used to support the notion of America as a Christian nation. At other times, activists have paired the phrase with anti-Zionist or negative Jewish stereotypes.

US and Mideast countries seek Kyiv's drone expertise as Russia-Ukraine talks put on ice

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are seeking Ukraine’s expertise in countering Iran’s Shahed drones. Zelenskyy says various countries, including the United States, have approached Ukraine for help in defending against the Iranian drones. He said he has spoken in recent days with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation. Russia has fired tens of thousands of Shaheds at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbor just over four years ago. Iran has responded with the same type of drones to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.

Knitting for healing, one stitch at a time

A Kenyan woman who survived breast cancer is knitting prostheses and training others to make them in a country where silicone ones are expensive. Women say the affordable prostheses are a relief and a source of dignity. One woman recalled staying indoors after her mastectomy “because I didn’t want people to label me as the ‘woman with one breast’.” Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women in Kenya, where 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Reconstructive surgery is out of reach for many and is not covered by the national health insurance system.

Millions left without power after major blackout hits Cuba's western region

A blackout has left millions of people without power in Havana and the rest of western Cuba in the latest outage on an island struggling with dwindling oil reserves and a crumbling electric grid. Government radio station Radio Rebelde quoted an energy official as saying that it could take at least 72 hours to restore operations at one of Cuba’s largest thermoelectric power plants, where a shutdown sparked the outage. The government’s electric utility said the outage affected people from the western town of Pinar del Rio to the central town of Camaguey. It is the second such outage to affect western Cuba in three months.

Canada and Australia leaders urge war de-escalation, but agree Iran can't get nuclear weapons

Canadian and Australian prime ministers have called for a de-escalation of the Iran war but added the Iranians must never gain a nuclear weapon. Canada's Mark Carney and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese discussed the spreading conflict Thursday in Canberra. The meeting came after news that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and Turkey said NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey’s air space. Carney is in Australia after earlier visiting India. He will later visit Japan.

Republicans take another crack at Homeland Security funding, citing Iran war

Republicans are invoking the war in Iran and the prospect of retaliatory terrorist attacks as they tee up votes on a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The House already approved a DHS spending bill in January, but it faltered in the Senate as Democrats insisted on changes to immigration enforcement operations following the shooting death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. As a result, funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14. Republicans are calling on Democrats to reconsider in the wake of the conflict in Iran. But Democrats argue that it's a cynical effort that will fail without changes to immigration enforcement operations.

An Arkansas man accused of killing his daughter's alleged abuser wins GOP sheriff's nomination

An Arkansas man awaiting trial for murder has won the Republican nomination in a sheriff’s race in central Arkansas. According to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas secretary of state, Aaron Spencer defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in Tuesday's primary. Spencer now advances to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in November’s general election. Spencer would not be able to serve if he is convicted of killing 67-year-old Michael Fosler. Fosler was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter. Spencer’s attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator.

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